MPs want probe into sh126 national ID fund

Sep 04, 2011

PARLIAMENT wants an investigation into the procurement of the sh260b national identity card equipment.

By Mary Karugaba and Joyce Namutebi

PARLIAMENT wants an investigation into the procurement of the sh260b national identity card equipment.

The directive came after the MPs heard that the equipment for the project was lying idle in Entebbe in spite of the impending expiry of its warranty.

Presenting a defence and internal affairs committee report to Parliament on Thursday, the committee vice-chairman, Simon Mulongo, told MPs that the equipment was delivered to Uganda in 2010.

However, he disclosed that the machines remain housed in squalid conditions inside dilapidated structures at the Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation in Entebbe.

“The machines will remain idle till 2013 when the Government will complete the payment for the manufacture of the IDs,” Mulongo said.

The MPs also heard that plans were underway to renovate the stores housing the machines.

However, it was also noted that there was no proper memorandum of understanding with the publishing corporation to ensure proper storage.

According to the report, the Ministry of Finance released sh56b in 2010/2011 as part of the contractual obligation for the equipment.

This financial year, the Government had allocated sh85.7b for offsetting the contractual obligation which would be completed in 2013.

The Government last year awarded Mühlbauer Technoloy from Germany the contract for the national identity card project.

The project was to be implemented over a three- year period.

Opposition leader Nandala Mafabi said: “If the warranty is expiring and the equipment is idle, it means the procurement was fraudulent and people did not plan well. We are now going to lose this money.”


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