Twist in Makerere computer house row

Oct 20, 2002

The conflict between the Makerere University Institute of Computer Science (ICS) and the university central management committee, has taken a new twist with the ICS director accusing the committee of committing perjury

By John Odyek

The conflict between the Makerere University Institute of Computer Science (ICS) and the university central management committee, has taken a new twist with the ICS director accusing the committee of committing perjury.
In a new petition, Dr Venansius Baryamureeba, asked the Inspector General of Government (IGG) and Parliament to investigate the committee for perjury.
He said the committee deliberately gave false information to the IGG which misled him in his attempt to find a solution to the row.
He said the university was likely to lose a lot of money if the disputed building was roofed at five floors instead of six.
Now the parliamentary committee on social services has summoned education minister Dr Khiddu Makubuya to appear as soon as Parliament resumes on November 12, to explain the controversy.
However, Makerere has gone ahead to roof the building.
The Norwegian-funded project is expected to cost sh3.09b. The site is located on Plot 56, opposite the University Guest House, and is being undertaken by Excel Construction. The five-storeys are estimated at sh2.28b and will be ready in April.
Randi Lotsberg, Second Secretary at the Norwegian Embassy said yesterday, “We have been satisfied that the Ugandan institutions have dealt with the matter and are continuing to do so.” She said the IGG had dealt with the matter and they respected the decisions made.
Baryamureeba’s petition said, “These false statements misguided the IGG and probably led him to the wrong conclusion. These false statements are going to cause the university serious financial loss over this building.”
“In the interest of Makerere University and the donors, the recommendation by the Makerere/NORAD (Norwegian Agency for Development) steering committee to have the building finished with six levels, which was approved by the annual meeting, has to be re-instated,” he said.
He said the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. John Sebuwufu, told the IGG that the funds for completing the project were for five storeys and not six.
But Sebuwufu told The New Vision yesterday that the original plan for the building was for four storeys and not six. He said NORAD provided funding for the four storeys and the fifth storey was to be funded by the University Council.
“I am going to investigate Baryamureeba on why he is so insistent. I think he has an interest in the project,” he said.
Sebuwufu denied he gave wrong information to the IGG.
“How can a vice-chancellor tell a lie? This is a public building,” he said.
However, university documents dated April on work plans and budgets for the building seen by The New Vision showed that six storeys were planned for.
Baryamureeba said Sebuwufu misled the IGG about overturning an agreement between the Makerere and NORAD steering committee.
In a petition to Parliament last month, Baryamureeba said NORAD had provided US$13m (sh2.64b), enough to build the planned six floors.

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