EA MPs to investigate Uganda’s lost ship
Jun 02, 2009
MEMBERS of the East African Legislative Assembly are to investigate reports that a Ugandan cargo ship mysteriously disappeared from the Mombasa harbour.<br>
By Madinah Tebajjukira
MEMBERS of the East African Legislative Assembly are to investigate reports that a Ugandan cargo ship mysteriously disappeared from the Mombasa harbour.
Addressing journalists at Parliament yesterday, MPs Lydia Wanyoto, Benard Mulengani and Mike Ssebalu said they had started the investigations.
Wanyoto explained that they had instructed a Ugandan official at the Port of Mombasa to furnish them with ‘historical and other’ information on the ship.
She added that they would also ask the Ugandan ambassador to Kenya to follow up the matter.
“This is a matter that we have to take up, but we need more information about it, because one day, we were told that Ugandan goods are delayed at the port, but when we reached there, it was not the case.â€
The Kenya Ports Authority managing director, James Mulewa, last month told visiting Ugandan MPs that the ship disappeared under strange circumstances.
Mulewa reportedly said it was not clear when the ship disappeared, according to Reagan Okumu (FDC), the chairperson of the committee on commissions, statutory and state enterprise.
Okumu said the ship had been bought by the defunct Coffee Marketing Board, a Government-owned company which buys and exports coffee.
“Ships also get stolen like cars. But we have been wondering what Uganda has been doing about it for all that time,†Okumu quoted Mulewa as saying.
Transport state minister Simon Ejua acknowledged that Uganda had a ship, which was one of the five vessels owned by Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia under the East African Community.
The ships, Ejua said, were managed by the East African Shipping Line Company.
According to Ejua, the Ugandan ship was lost to an unknown company because of debts.
“MV Uganda was impounded in Holland in February 1980 by the creditors for non-payment of fixed supplies,†he said.
He could, however, not confirm whether Uganda was officially informed about the confiscation.
Okumu yesterday wrote to the works and transport minister demanding detailed information on the ship.
He specifically demanded the ship’s capacity, chassis, engine numbers and the routes it operated.
Okumu also attached a photo copy of the picture of the ship. When contacted yesterday, minister John Nasasira, said he was on leave and ‘maybe’ his deputy, John Byabagambi had received the letter. Byabagambi could not be reached by press time.
MEMBERS of the East African Legislative Assembly are to investigate reports that a Ugandan cargo ship mysteriously disappeared from the Mombasa harbour.
Addressing journalists at Parliament yesterday, MPs Lydia Wanyoto, Benard Mulengani and Mike Ssebalu said they had started the investigations.
Wanyoto explained that they had instructed a Ugandan official at the Port of Mombasa to furnish them with ‘historical and other’ information on the ship.
She added that they would also ask the Ugandan ambassador to Kenya to follow up the matter.
“This is a matter that we have to take up, but we need more information about it, because one day, we were told that Ugandan goods are delayed at the port, but when we reached there, it was not the case.â€
The Kenya Ports Authority managing director, James Mulewa, last month told visiting Ugandan MPs that the ship disappeared under strange circumstances.
Mulewa reportedly said it was not clear when the ship disappeared, according to Reagan Okumu (FDC), the chairperson of the committee on commissions, statutory and state enterprise.
Okumu said the ship had been bought by the defunct Coffee Marketing Board, a Government-owned company which buys and exports coffee.
“Ships also get stolen like cars. But we have been wondering what Uganda has been doing about it for all that time,†Okumu quoted Mulewa as saying.
Transport state minister Simon Ejua acknowledged that Uganda had a ship, which was one of the five vessels owned by Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia under the East African Community.
The ships, Ejua said, were managed by the East African Shipping Line Company.
According to Ejua, the Ugandan ship was lost to an unknown company because of debts.
“MV Uganda was impounded in Holland in February 1980 by the creditors for non-payment of fixed supplies,†he said.
He could, however, not confirm whether Uganda was officially informed about the confiscation.
Okumu yesterday wrote to the works and transport minister demanding detailed information on the ship.
He specifically demanded the ship’s capacity, chassis, engine numbers and the routes it operated.
Okumu also attached a photo copy of the picture of the ship. When contacted yesterday, minister John Nasasira, said he was on leave and ‘maybe’ his deputy, John Byabagambi had received the letter. Byabagambi could not be reached by press time.