The Members of Parliament on Physical Infrastructure Committee has commenced investigations into how Government of Uganda irrergulary awarded Switzerland based company, Societe Generale Surveillance (SGS) a contract to carry out mandatory vehicle inspections in Uganda.
On Thursday, Eng.Denis Sabiiti, the former Commissioner in charge of Transport Inspection and Regulation in the Ministry of Works and Transport appeared before the Committee and was grilled over his role in awarding a contract to SGS.
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SGS signed a contract with government in March 2015 to carry out routine inspection of vehicles so as to reduce on accidents.
Chaired by Luweero district Woman MP, Lillian Nakate Segujja, the MPs questioned Sabiiti as to why he witnessed the signing of a contract which had irregularities.
In defense, Sabiiti, who is the current MP for Rubanda South denied any wrongdoing, noting that he wasn’t part of the team that approved the evaluation report of the deal, but only witnessed the signing of the contract.
He however added that if Parliament is to recommend for termination of the contract, there should be serious investigations into whether the individuals in Transport Ministry charged with supervision carried their work within the law.
Recently Parliament extended the deadline for the mandatory vehicle inspections until it investigates and pronounces itself on the matter.
Parliament reached this unanimous decision after Mukono County South MP, Johnson Muyanja raised the issue on the floor of Parliament, asking to have the deadline for mandatory vehicle inspections extended. The deadline was meant to take effect on June30, 2017.
Muyanja argued that Ministry of Works and Transport is taxing vehicle owners twice, noting that one pays vehicle inspection fees when they buy cars.
SGS earns Shs1.23bn monthly from vehicle inspections, according to statistics submitted to Parliament.
