By Darious Magara

THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has opposed the plan by the Government to give a Dubai-based company a concession to run the Entebbe International Airport.

Dodsal Infrastructure Development recently applied for a concession to run the airport and appointed Changi, a Singapore company, to do a feasibility study.

FDC deputy spokesperson Bamwenda Toterebuka yesterday told a weekly press conference that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had the capacity to run the airport.
“CAA has the capacity to run Entebbe and even rehabilitate other airports like Kasese, Soroti, Gulu, Kimaka and Tororo,” he said.

Toterebuka said the aviation authority should be supported by the Government to manage the airports.

“That firm which is being fronted is not even credible,” he added.
“FDC will mobilise the masses against offering the airport to any investor.”

Toterebuka said many government organisations were not properly sold off, adding that the party would not allow the airport ‘to be placed in the hands of inexperienced investors’.

The Government defended the Arab company’s proposal, saying it would elevate the airport to international standards.

Finance and investment state minister Aston Kajara said the Government wanted to develop the airport but did not have the money.
“If there is a better player who can bring in money and do a good job, why shouldn’t we study the proposal,” asked Kajara, while addressing journalists in Kampala last week.

He said the Government would study the proposal, adding that the CAA had done some work on the airport, but it was not enough.

Commenting on the investigation of Tom Jjulunga’s death, Toterebuka accused the Police of interfering in the party’s investigations.

He said efforts by party officials to interview Vincent Baguma, who is currently detained by the Police, had been blocked.

Jjulunga, who was a party activist, was allegedly shot and killed by the Police in a night operation last month. He is said to have been with Baguma after carrying out a series of robberies.