IGG puts UNRA legal officer on spot over conflict of interest in awarding contracts
The Inspector General of Government has asked the Uganda National Roads Authority to take immediate action against Mary Kamuli Kuteesa, one of the members on the agency’s contracts committee.
In a letter dated January 9, 2018, the IGG says that her office received a copy of complaint addressed to UNRA over Kamuli in regards to conflict of interest in her work as a member of the contracts committee.
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“It was specifically alleged that her(Kamuli) husband through his law firm Arcodco and Co. Advocates represents companies like China Wuyi Co. Ltd and China Communications and Construction Company Limited(CCCC),information she never disclosed,” the IGG in a letter signed by S.K Kasirye writes.
http://nilepost.co.ug/2018/01/15/museveni-orders-kagina-over-dott-services-on-mbale-tirinyi-road/
CCCC won the contract to construct the 53 km Kampala - Entebbe Expressway from Busega to Entebbe airport at a whooping cost of 1.19 trillion shillings, part of it ( 875 billion) is a loan from the Exim Bank of China at two percent annual interest.
The Inspectorate of Government is an independent institution charged with the responsibility of eliminating corruption, abuse of authority and of public office with powers to investigate, cause investigation, arrest, cause to arrest, prosecute, make orders and give directions in case of any corruption or abuse of office scenario.
In the IGG’s letter, she says that there is an allegation that Kamuli’s presence on the contracts committee for UNRA disadvantages other companies that are eliminated from the procurement process without any justifiable reasons and also biases the entire procurement process by UNRA.
“The purpose of this letter is to request you to take appropriate action into the matter above and report to this office within 30 days from receipt of this letter,” directs the IGG.
When contacted about the matter,UNRA spokesperson Mark Ssali said that Kuteesa didn't disclose the issue of the contracts with her husband because she is bound by the confidentiality close.
"Since the issue has now come up, she has since found out that there is no company in that regards being represented by her husband, "Ssali said.
