Police stuck with CHOGM bikes
Apr 07, 2011
A total of 80 VIP lead motorcycles, which were allocated to the Police during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), are in poor mechanical condition, according to the Auditor General’s (AG) report.
By Mary Karugaba
A total of 80 VIP lead motorcycles, which were allocated to the Police during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), are in poor mechanical condition, according to the Auditor General’s (AG) report.
John Muwanga, the AG, said by December last year, 36 of the motorcycles had been grounded, while 44 had a series of mechanical problems.
Muwanga, in a report to Parliament, noted that this was because the motorcycles were procured without standard tool kits, spare tyres, manual/software and remote chargers.
“At the time of audit in December 2010, 36 motorcycles had been grounded because they required reprogramming, yet the necessary tools were lacking. The remaining 44 motorcycles had various mechanical problems,†the report noted.
It was noted that the most common spare parts required, which include clutch plate components, suspension system and driving shafts, were not available on the open market.
The report observed that most of the motorcycles were at the Police main workshop on Old Portbell Road.
“The mechanics at the workshop lacked professional skills and knowledge to handle the technical aspects of the BMW motorcycles,†the report added.
To facilitate the movement of VIPs, the Police was given 60 Subaru lead motor vehicles and 80 motorcycles.
It was also noted that because the cars were not always used, the maintenance costs had become high. Test driving, which is done only once a month, they consume between 20-25 litres of fuel per vehicle.
Due to parking of the motorcycles for longer periods, they required replacement of two batteries whenever they were to be used.
A total of 80 VIP lead motorcycles, which were allocated to the Police during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), are in poor mechanical condition, according to the Auditor General’s (AG) report.
John Muwanga, the AG, said by December last year, 36 of the motorcycles had been grounded, while 44 had a series of mechanical problems.
Muwanga, in a report to Parliament, noted that this was because the motorcycles were procured without standard tool kits, spare tyres, manual/software and remote chargers.
“At the time of audit in December 2010, 36 motorcycles had been grounded because they required reprogramming, yet the necessary tools were lacking. The remaining 44 motorcycles had various mechanical problems,†the report noted.
It was noted that the most common spare parts required, which include clutch plate components, suspension system and driving shafts, were not available on the open market.
The report observed that most of the motorcycles were at the Police main workshop on Old Portbell Road.
“The mechanics at the workshop lacked professional skills and knowledge to handle the technical aspects of the BMW motorcycles,†the report added.
To facilitate the movement of VIPs, the Police was given 60 Subaru lead motor vehicles and 80 motorcycles.
It was also noted that because the cars were not always used, the maintenance costs had become high. Test driving, which is done only once a month, they consume between 20-25 litres of fuel per vehicle.
Due to parking of the motorcycles for longer periods, they required replacement of two batteries whenever they were to be used.