MPs ask: "Did government forward the balance for the new planes?"

Some members of Parliament have asked government to table the agreement it signed the manufacturer of the CRJ900 Bombardier planes to see whether it does not disadvantage Uganda.

This follows the delay to deliver two planes by the manufacturer on April 8 as had been agreed by the two parties.

Speaking to The Nile Post, some MPs wondered whether the Shs 283 billion that was supposed to be delivered to the Canadian manufacturer before the end of March had indeed been forwarded.

On March 29 in a special sitting of Parliament, Shs 283 billion was approved as supplementary budget to help in clearing the balance for two planes that would form the foundation of the revived Uganda Airlines.

It had been said that failure to pay this balance before the end of March would attract a fine of $29 million.

In fact, the minister of Works and Transport Monica Azuba Ntege assured the House that the planes would touch down on April 8.

But yesterday, government said they will be delivered on April 23, a change that appears to have rattled some legislators.

Jonathan Odur, the MP for Erute South said Parliament and the public had been taken for a ride and now wants Ntege to be summoned to explain what caused the delay.

The MP said there was genuine fear in the public that the Shs 283 billion meant to clear the balance could have been put on an account in Kampala to first generate interest.

"We want the minister and other officials to come and explain what caused the delay. Otherwise the delay could lead to speculation which is not good," Odur said.

Other MPs led by James Waluswaka (Bunyole West), Kenneth Lubogo (Bulamogi) and Robert Centenary (Kasese Municipality urged government to table the agreement for Ugandans to see.