Book firms lose sh1b tender

Jun 09, 2004

THREE leading publishing firms have been disqualified from government’s sh1b textbooks supply tender over allegations of corruption.

By John Eremu

THREE leading publishing firms have been disqualified from government’s sh1b textbooks supply tender over allegations of corruption.

MK Publishers, MK General School Supplies and Global Education Link also face disciplinary action for having obtained before hand, confidential tender documents from the education ministry.

In a letter to the companies’ lawyers, the permanent secretary, Francis Lubanga, said by referring to the confidential draft evaluation and public procurement and disposal of public assets authority (PPDA) reports in their submissions, the companies had contravened rules governing the tender process.

“The authority found evidence of fraudulent and collusive practices contrary to Section 3 of the PPDA Act No. 1 of 2003. Your clients misrepresented facts when they submitted their manuscripts as new works well knowing they were not,” he said.

Lubanga promised “disciplinary action” against the companies and the PPDA reportedly dismissed any appeals by the three companies and Gustro/Oxford University Press.

The authority said other than the font size and colour, the manuscripts submitted by MK General School Supplies and Global Education Link were similar to those of MK Publishers.

Lubanga further said MK Publishers, which purportedly licensed its copyrights to MK General School Supplies and Global Education Link, went ahead to compete for the same tender.

“In view of the above antics and the fact that the three companies are controlled by one individual, Mr. Samuel Majwega Musoke, the ministry established that they colluded for the purpose of winning Cycle 10 and therefore, demonstrably indulged in fraudulent and collusive practices (contrary) to Section three of the PPDA Act,” Lubanga said.

He said awarding the tenders to the three companies would have defeated the ministry policy of getting three titles per subject to choose from.

Ends

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