Health cancels sex educ contract
Nov 07, 2002
THE Ministry of Health has cancelled a multi-million shilling project aimed at creating more awareness about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
By Edris Kisambira
THE Ministry of Health has cancelled a multi-million shilling project aimed at creating more awareness about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
An official said the reasons for the cancellation were unclear. “Government has terminated Ashford International (AI’s) contract. It is not clear what happened but the two parties have disagreed,†he said.
The $3m World Bank-funded project was to be undertaken by the radio communication experts, AI, a US company.
Dr. Peter Okwero of the Kampala World Bank office said, “I am aware the contract has been terminated.†He said he did not know the cause of the twist in a programme that was almost done.
Under the project, which started in 1999, AI was to install radio communication equipment to boost Radio Uganda’s FM transmission capacity as well as train Radio Uganda staff on how to use the facilities.
A satellite up-link station transmitter was recently installed at Radio
Uganda on Nile Avenue, Kampala.
Five of the 10 upcountry stations were installed by a Ugandan company, Mancom Electronics Limited.
The installed stations are Arua, Lira, Masindi, Hoima and Fort Portal. The other stations pending installation because of insecurity in the north are Moyo, Kitgum, Gulu, Kotido and Moroto.
Health officials are tight-lipped about the saga. Dr. Herman Kyabaggu, the director health services (planning and development) yesterday said, “I am not aware of any STI project that has been cancelled.â€
The disagreement between AI and the ministry, a source said, arose out of AI’s failure to complete the project in time. AI was supposed to have completed the work a year after the contract was signed in July 2001.
Before the cancellation, AI is said to have written to the ministry through the permanent secretary, Richard Muhinda, saying they would cancel their contract unless the ministry extended letters of credit and cleared some outstanding bills.
“Ashford shall wait until November 8th, 2002, 5:00pm EST for the Ministry of Health to properly extend the letters of credit and to make payment of all submitted invoices,†one letter said.
THE Ministry of Health has cancelled a multi-million shilling project aimed at creating more awareness about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
An official said the reasons for the cancellation were unclear. “Government has terminated Ashford International (AI’s) contract. It is not clear what happened but the two parties have disagreed,†he said.
The $3m World Bank-funded project was to be undertaken by the radio communication experts, AI, a US company.
Dr. Peter Okwero of the Kampala World Bank office said, “I am aware the contract has been terminated.†He said he did not know the cause of the twist in a programme that was almost done.
Under the project, which started in 1999, AI was to install radio communication equipment to boost Radio Uganda’s FM transmission capacity as well as train Radio Uganda staff on how to use the facilities.
A satellite up-link station transmitter was recently installed at Radio
Uganda on Nile Avenue, Kampala.
Five of the 10 upcountry stations were installed by a Ugandan company, Mancom Electronics Limited.
The installed stations are Arua, Lira, Masindi, Hoima and Fort Portal. The other stations pending installation because of insecurity in the north are Moyo, Kitgum, Gulu, Kotido and Moroto.
Health officials are tight-lipped about the saga. Dr. Herman Kyabaggu, the director health services (planning and development) yesterday said, “I am not aware of any STI project that has been cancelled.â€
The disagreement between AI and the ministry, a source said, arose out of AI’s failure to complete the project in time. AI was supposed to have completed the work a year after the contract was signed in July 2001.
Before the cancellation, AI is said to have written to the ministry through the permanent secretary, Richard Muhinda, saying they would cancel their contract unless the ministry extended letters of credit and cleared some outstanding bills.
“Ashford shall wait until November 8th, 2002, 5:00pm EST for the Ministry of Health to properly extend the letters of credit and to make payment of all submitted invoices,†one letter said.