Row Erupts Over Used Army Jeeps

By Yunusu Abbey CONTROVERSY has rocked Bombo Army General Headquarters over the importation of 20 used trucks believed to be junk. The Czech Republic-made TATRA trucks were shipped from the Tanzanian port of Mwanza last week and moved to the Mbuya military barracks en-route to Nakasongola. Sources said the disputed second-hand trucks, whose supplier was yet to be named, are meant for the UPDF's Nakasongola air defence unit which is commanded by Col. Nelson Katagara. "The consignment includes eight Israel-made military jeeps, which were offloaded on Monday at the Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) Port Bell pier. The jeeps seem okay, they look better than the trucks," said a source. But top UPDF officers said the deal was not tendered and wondered who had placed the order contrary to regulations. Initial reports said an Israeli businessman who has been selling goods to the UPDF, could be behind the deal. But there was no independent confirmation of the reports yesterday. The New Vision was yet to establish the cost of the 28 vehicles. "Apart from not tendering the deal, the trucks seem to be very old and look like the Second-World War type. This might be another major scandal in the UPDF likely to be worse than the highly-publicised junk helicopter deal whose probe report is yet to be released," said the source. The issue is said to have drawn strong protests from top army officers in Bombo, who want to know how much the Government paid or is to pay for the consignment. "Senior officers are angry because no government official from either Defence or the works ministry inspected the trucks before their shipment from the country of origin," said a source. "The Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence under Lt. Col. Noble Mayombo should probe the deal and establish whether tax payers' money was again wasted as it happened with the junk helicopters," the source said. Lt. Col. Charles Otema, the UPDF's director of transport, said he was not aware of the imported trucks. "You are telling me news. I don't even know that some imported trucks and jeeps have arrived," he said. Lt. Col. Eric Mukasa, the UPDF's inspector general of military equipment, said on Tuesday that he was not involved in the procurement or inspection of the trucks. He said, "I don't know whether the purchase was tendered or not. I was just instructed to receive the trucks and that is what I am doing right now," he said. "I am supposed to write a brief for the assistant chief of staff (Col. Fred Tolit) about the trucks. So afande Tolit is the right person you should talk to," Mukasa said. But Tolit was unavailable for comment. Col. Fred Bogere, the Chief of Logistics and Engineering, was surprised. "As the chief of logistics and engineering, at least I would have known about the deal. But I can assure you that I was not involved in the procurement of these trucks at all," he said. Both Bogere and Mukasa declined further comment and referred The New Vision to army spokesman Lt. Col. Phinehas Katirima. Katirima said he had to consult relevant authorities who handled the procurement "before giving an official position." The trucks, each with a capacity to carry 30 tonnes, were shipped aboard the URC-owned MV Pamba and MV Kawa ships from Mwanza. On arrival at Port Bell, they were ferried in wagons up to the URC goodshed in Kampala from where they were removed on Saturday and Sunday. Military sources described them as special or tactical trucks purposely acquired for ferrying heavy weapons. Ends