Etiang attributes ferry mishap to URC laxity
Jun 19, 2005
INCOMPETENCE, laxity and mismanagement in the Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) led to the sinking of MV Kabalega, the URC board chairman, Paul Etiang, told the probe committee on Friday.
By Cyprian Musoke
INCOMPETENCE, laxity and mismanagement in the Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) led to the sinking of MV Kabalega, the URC board chairman, Paul Etiang, told the probe committee on Friday.
Etiang told the committee chaired by former Attorney General Bart Katureebe that despite warnings from the board and narrow escapes of the ships, management had adamantly refused to repair or insure the ships.
Etiang said general apathy of the staff due to the pending privatisation of URC also led to negligence, making such accidents a danger waiting to happen.
He said the staff lost morale when the Government announced the privatisation of URC.
Etiang (above) said staff they had trained at the time of procuring the ships left, leaving only one staff who knew ship management.
He said even when the ships were eventually insured, the insurance contract was irregularly awarded to the only firm that could insure them in an un-repaired state.
The managing director, David Murungi, said insurers they had got later withdrew, when they found out that the ships were not up to standards.
Ends
INCOMPETENCE, laxity and mismanagement in the Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) led to the sinking of MV Kabalega, the URC board chairman, Paul Etiang, told the probe committee on Friday.
Etiang told the committee chaired by former Attorney General Bart Katureebe that despite warnings from the board and narrow escapes of the ships, management had adamantly refused to repair or insure the ships.
Etiang said general apathy of the staff due to the pending privatisation of URC also led to negligence, making such accidents a danger waiting to happen.
He said the staff lost morale when the Government announced the privatisation of URC.
Etiang (above) said staff they had trained at the time of procuring the ships left, leaving only one staff who knew ship management.
He said even when the ships were eventually insured, the insurance contract was irregularly awarded to the only firm that could insure them in an un-repaired state.
The managing director, David Murungi, said insurers they had got later withdrew, when they found out that the ships were not up to standards.
Ends