Government paid Shs105,000 for COVID-19 patients in Kampala (courtesy photo)
The Government using taxpayers’ money paid up to Shs105,000 for a plate of food for COVID-19 patients in Kampala, the COVID-19 Interventions Report for Financial Year 2019/20 released by Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development’s Budget Monitoring and Accountability Unit (BMAU) in October 2020 obtained by Business Focus has revealed.
It should be recalled that special meals and drinks for quarantined individuals, COVID-19 suspects and patients were allocated a supplementary of Shs4.3bn.
Consequently, the Ministry of Health contracted M/s Keba Investments Limited to provide food for the National Task Force, quarantine and treatment centers through a framework contract.
According to the report, the terms of the contract included provision
of breakfast at Shs5,000, Lunch and dinner at Shs20,000 respectively.
“The contractor provided food for quarantined people and health workers at Entebbe RRH, MoH Call Centre, Fisheries Training Institute, DDA Training Institute, National Meteorological Training School, Institute of Surveys and Land Management among others,” the report reads in part.
It adds: “M/s Keba also provided meals and breakfast to the National Task Force at Shs18,000 and Shs6,000 respectively. By 25th June, 2020 the contractor had made invoices for food of Shs3.3bn.”
However, the report says that variances as a result of miscalculations and omissions on the side of service providers were noted; for example KPMG noted that a total variance of over Shs65million in relation to catering services offered by M/s Keba Investments Ltd in May 2020.
“The unit cost of food varied greatly for example in Arua RRH, meals for COVID-19 patients cost Shs62,000, Shs15,000 in Jinja, while Ms Keba provided food to Entebbe RRH, selected quarantine and treatment centers at Shs45,000. It was also established in some cases it went as high at Shs105,000 in Kampala (The Grand Global Hotel),” the report notes.
It adds that the Ministry of Health accommodated over 2,500 COVID-19 suspects and returnees in various institutions by
August 2020. These included: Fisheries Training Institute, Diary Development Authority (DDA) Training Institute, Institute of Surveys and Land Management, National Metrological Training School among others. Others were accommodated in hotels like Grand Global Hotel Ltd, Central INN Hotel Ltd, Emburara Safari Limited trading as Nyumbani Hotel; Kirigime Guest House among others.
According to the report, the unit cost of full accommodation varied from Shs60,000 to Shs250,000.
“Although there was a guideline that travelers from abroad should cater for their accommodation costs, the MoH incurred costs for a number of people. The selection criteria regarding the beneficiaries of these services remained unclear,” the report says.
It adds: “The MoH paid M/s Kirigime Guest House over Shs170million to Kigirme for quarantine services rendered to 86 travelers. The cost per room at Kigirme Guest House was Shs60,000 exclusive of meals of Shs50,000 (breakfast and evening tea at Shs10,000respectively; Lunch and dinner at Shs40,000).”
However, the report notes, other districts with Points of
Entry (POE) did not receive such services. The selection criteria for POE districts like Kabale that received such support also remained unclear,” the report reveals.
Was looking for name of the owner of M/S Keba investments Ltd!
Oooh goodness we are not paid for 3 months unbelievable
This is so terrible, it’s so sad that some of the tax payers are still home serving away with their businesses still closed mbu covid.
How awful, u people should be ashamed of your lives