Ashford, Health wrangle resolved
Jul 31, 2003
State minister for health Capt. Mike Mukula has said the long-standing row between the ministry and an American communications company, Ashford International, over an FM/VHF project to promote HIV/AIDS awareness has been resolved
By Emmy Allio
State minister for health Capt. Mike Mukula has said the long-standing row between the ministry and an American communications company, Ashford International, over an FM/VHF project to promote HIV/AIDS awareness has been resolved.
“The row over the AIDS project has been resolved. The Solicitor General okayed the payments to Ashford International, which is expected to hand-over the installed equipment to the Government,†Mukula said yesterday.
But a senior manager of Ashford International (AI), Chichi Chen, said, “There is no communication from the Ministry of Health. We have stopped calling there. No one seems to take responsibility. It is tragic how an important project for the AIDS programme is not being attended seriously.â€
Under the US$3.5m World Bank-funded project, AI has installed satellite up-link station transmitters at Radio Uganda on Nile Avenue in Kampala which will relay audio and video signals to a total of 22 down-link stations upcountry.
A Ugandan company, Mancom Electronics Ltd, has installed five of the 10 upcountry stations in Arua, Lira, Masindi, Hoima and Fort Portal. Other stations, whose equipment were already shipped into the country but whose installation was pending due to insecurity, were Moyo, Kitgum, Gulu, Kotido and Moroto.
A senior official in the department of information said the project is on. “We are happy that the Government has finally resolved this very important project.
Mukula said the World Bank was considering releasing funds for Phase II of the project. He said, “The completion of the project is long overdue.â€
Initially, the project was to benefit both the health information ministries, but the latter pulled out under unclear circumstances.
Health officials said the AI contract was terminated when 80% of the work was done. AI claimed a rival American Company, RSI Vertex that was locally being fronted by Hajji Habibi Kajimu’s company, Crystal Communications Limited, influenced the termination.
State minister for health Capt. Mike Mukula has said the long-standing row between the ministry and an American communications company, Ashford International, over an FM/VHF project to promote HIV/AIDS awareness has been resolved.
“The row over the AIDS project has been resolved. The Solicitor General okayed the payments to Ashford International, which is expected to hand-over the installed equipment to the Government,†Mukula said yesterday.
But a senior manager of Ashford International (AI), Chichi Chen, said, “There is no communication from the Ministry of Health. We have stopped calling there. No one seems to take responsibility. It is tragic how an important project for the AIDS programme is not being attended seriously.â€
Under the US$3.5m World Bank-funded project, AI has installed satellite up-link station transmitters at Radio Uganda on Nile Avenue in Kampala which will relay audio and video signals to a total of 22 down-link stations upcountry.
A Ugandan company, Mancom Electronics Ltd, has installed five of the 10 upcountry stations in Arua, Lira, Masindi, Hoima and Fort Portal. Other stations, whose equipment were already shipped into the country but whose installation was pending due to insecurity, were Moyo, Kitgum, Gulu, Kotido and Moroto.
A senior official in the department of information said the project is on. “We are happy that the Government has finally resolved this very important project.
Mukula said the World Bank was considering releasing funds for Phase II of the project. He said, “The completion of the project is long overdue.â€
Initially, the project was to benefit both the health information ministries, but the latter pulled out under unclear circumstances.
Health officials said the AI contract was terminated when 80% of the work was done. AI claimed a rival American Company, RSI Vertex that was locally being fronted by Hajji Habibi Kajimu’s company, Crystal Communications Limited, influenced the termination.