Parliament questions Police laboratory project

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, has tasked the Attorney General to explain to Parliament whether the Uganda Police Force (UPF) has the locus standi to enter into an agreement with Tip Top Investments Ltd for the construction of a forensic laboratory and accommodation facility in Naguru, Kampala.

Kadaga cites among other concerns, the questionable lease of government land to the proposed developer, under unclear circumstances, to set up facilities for the police force.

“This is a scandal! How can you have a sub-lease of 99 years on a lease of 49 years? Who executed that instrument? We need the Attorney General here to answer this,” said the Speaker during plenary on Wednesday, 2 October 2019.

She also sent off the Floor of Parliament, minutes presented by the Chairperson of the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs, Hon. Doreen Amule, pertaining to meetings with stakeholders on the matter.

The Speaker told the House that the minutes were incomplete, limited in information and had not been signed and owned by the committee chairperson.

“I do not even see a copy of the agreement made so Honourable Members, there is something wrong. I am proposing that we differ any consideration of this matter until the minutes, agreement and a proper report of due diligence are produced,” Kadaga added.

She said this in response to majority and minority reports presented by MPs on the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs; Hon. Daniel Muheirwe (NRM, Buhaguzi County) and Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi (DP, Butambala County) respectively.

The reports followed a motion for their adoption regarding the tripartite agreement between the Uganda Police Force, Uganda Land Commission and Tip Top Investments Ltd for the design, construction and equipping of a regional forensic referral centre, construction of headquarters and accommodation for officers.

The East African Community Chiefs of Police endorsed Uganda to host the Regional Forensic Referral Centre (RFRC) at a meeting held in Rwanda from 23 to 24 August, 20l2.

Muheirwe told MPs that the forensic centre would generate revenue from local and international referrals, aid in speedy investigation of national, regional, trans-border crime and reduce backlog of cases in the administration of justice.

The minority report raised concerns that the committee did not address itself on the legal capacities of the parties involved in entering the agreement that binds Uganda as a country.

Muwanga Kivumbi proposed that to protect the country’s prime land from unscrupulous dealings, a better funding method for the project be applied which would be for Government to set aside a shs90 billion budget for the purpose through supplementary funding.