Minister Tumwebaze named in Ugx 505 billion road construction fraud

The Minister for Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries, Frank Kagigyi Tumwebaze has been named in the fraudulent awarding and later blockage of an investigation into the award of a Ugx 484 billion contract for the construction of the Kyenjojo – Kihura – Bwisi road.

The contract was scrouplously awarded to Arab Contractors without due diligence, process and allegedly for private gain last week by the Uganda National Roads Authority.

Higly placed sources within the government told this website that a bid that attracted up to nine (9) contractors was announced and by August 3rd, 2023, all bids were opened for the Kyenjojo – Kihura – Bwisi road construction, funded by the Islamic Development Bank.

UCA Isaant & Lanka rani whose total cost for the road construction was at Ugx 448. billion appeared to be Lowest bid, with all requisite requirements.

However, through sinan die, UNRA said, the company’s bid security was fake yet it had no problem despite having no problem.

At the time of bid submission, the security was cleared as correct, given to consortium by Morgan Bank of Azerbaijan, corresponded by Equity Bank Uganda.

After the earthquake, it went under and the bidder, Isaant, got another Security from United Bank of Africa – UBA, of up to 5 billion UG and has extended it three times at 150,000 USD. Experts this website has spoken to indicate that such a bidder can not be disqualified since there was liability to the entity. “For, the Bid was secured throught the bidding process.” a source at UNRA told this website.

However, for Arab Contractors, a company that was awarded the contract, a total cost of up to Ugx 511 billion had a higher cost.

Sources indicated that The best evaluated bidder, Arab Contractors was 57 billion higher and, did not have notorized powers of attorney, lack key equipment like wheel loaders, did not submit certified audited books of accounts and specifically, documents about the Certified books of accounts of 2022 were not availed.

Highly places sources indicated that whistle blowers notified UNRA, PPDA, Inspectorate of Government and the Solicitor General.

However, all these facts were ignored by all state agencies especially PPDA and went ahead to recommend that they award Arab Contractors which lacked all the three key requirements needed for the contract.

It has been established that Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze and Benson Turamye, the Head of the PPDA, have frustrated the investigation process on Arab Contractors and the proposal to have a transparent procurement process.

He is said to have called the Solicitor General, banged tables at PPDA, blocking any investigation from being carried out against Arab Contractors, despite the company having glaring issues relating to incompetence.

Salongo Matovu, one of the whistle blowers told this website that Tumwebaze has been severally recorded threatening PPDA not to engage in any investigation.

“Everyone is currently distressed and in panic because one man is making sure that he frustrates the process. It is high time, the President reigns on his officials who move high and above in curtailing the provision of good services,” Matovu said.

Our reporters failed to get a comment from Minister Tumwebaze about the matter as all his known telephone numbers went un picked.