EC awards sh200b ballot tender to foreign firms

2021 ELECTIONS |

The Electoral Commission (EC) has awarded the tender to print ballot papers to five foreign firms ahead of next year's general election.

The tenders to print ballot papers is estimated to cost close to sh200b.

The firms are Tall Security Printers (UK), Uniprint (South Africa), United Printing and Publishing (Abu Dhabi), Adare Sec Ltd (UK) and Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing Company (Dubai).

"As part of the final preparations for the general election 2021, the EC awarded the contracts for printing of ballot papers for use in the elections as follows," the EC chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, said in a statement issued on.

The United Printing and Publishing of Abu Dhabi will print ballot papers for presidential candidates and the directly-elected Members of Parliament.

The Dubai based Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing LLC won the tender to print ballot papers for district Woman Members of Parliament, district/city woman councillors and sub-county/town/municipal Division Woman councillors.

The South African-based Uniprint in Durban will print ballot papers of district/city chairpersons, district/city directly-elected councillors, municipality/city division chairpersons, municipality/city division women councillors.

United Kingdom-based Tall Security Print Ltd was awarded a tender to print ballot papers for municipality directly-elected councillors, special interest groups at district, municipality and sub-county level.

Another UK firm, Adare Sec Ltd, will print ballot papers for sub- county/town/municipal division chairpersons, sub-county/town/municipal division directly elected councillors.

Byabakama said they have officially communicated to political parties and candidates participating in the elections, inviting them to nominate official agents for accreditation to travel to the above countries and observe the printing, packing and delivery of these critical electoral materials at their own cost.

Local printing companies protested the award of tenders to foreign firms and petitioned the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority to re-evaluate the contract and consider the government's policy of Buy Uganda Build Uganda.

EC had then awarded the ballot contract to seven foreign companies.

President Yoweri Museveni, in a letter to the Prime Minister, dated March 23, 2020, directed that ballot papers for elections, banknotes, passports, driving licences and identity cards to be printed locally.

In July, eight senior EC officials were relieved of their duties, reportedly over irregular procurements.

Why bids were rejected

The EC cited many reasons why local companies were eliminated from the deal. Group Joss NV was eliminated because it did not submit its certificate of incorporation or its equivalent. There was also no evidence of fulfilment to pay taxes and they did not submit bid security.

Media World Productions Ltd and Abulhoul Printing Press Ltd joint venture was disqualified reportedly because it did not submit their licence, certificate of registration and evidence of payment of taxes.

BN Enterprises Ltd did not submit the bid submission sheet. In-Line, Print Services and Hitech General Trading LLC did not submit a certified joint venture agreement. Marianum Press Ltd, linked to the Catholic Church, reportedly submitted invalid bid security and enclosed a commitment letter from SWICO as bid security.

Multiplex Ltd and Wave Media Ltd, among others, did not submit evidence of completion of three contracts.