UGANDAN MPS TOLD OF HOW A MULTIMILLION SHILLING RADAR AT THE ENTEBBE AIRPORT, WHICH WAS OBTAINED DURING THE COMMONWEALTH SUMMIT, HAS STOPPED FUNCTIONING.
Business Report By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.
UGANDAN international airport {Entebbe} is without a functioning aviation radar. The one which was procured two years ago during the Summit of the Commonwealth Heads of State and governments {CHOGM} has ceased functioning.
Members of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee were told on Wednesday that the radar equipment, procured by the Ugandan government at a cost of Ushs 600 million during the CHOGM Summit two years ago has already broken down.
Stephen Magezi, the Commissioner of Meteorology, told the committee members that the equipment was delivered on November 26,2007, three days after the beginning of the summit, and broke down in 2009.
This particular equipment was supplied by a South African firm, Netsys International.
When asked whether the system worked, Magezi referred the committee members to the person who had been handed the equipment, a Mr Vansar Baryamu, who then told the committee that the system had worked only for a short while, but it ceased and stopped functioning last year.
“It is software. It went down last year. The problem has been the lack of electronic engineers”, he added.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water Development, David Obong’, told the committee chairman, Nandala Mafabi, that the department made a loss since the radar did not serve the purpose for which it was procured, and therefore, the suppliers should refund the taxpayers money.
The PS also ordered that the officials involved in the procurement should be investigated for procuring “fake” equipment.
“The company must refund the money, including interest and damage. The officials, starting with the Commissioner Magezi, should be investigated for abuse of office, “he said.
Apart from the financial loss, Magezi also pointed out the danger of having an airport without functioning radar system.
He explained that the radar detect serious issues, and if neglected, it could readily bring down a plane.
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