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Following a committee report accentuating the shoddy workmanship in the construction of the newly commissioned Katuna Border Post, Parliament has instructed the Inspectorate of Government to carry out an investigation into the matter.
Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs conducted an oversight visit to the Katuna Border Post, between Uganda with Rwanda, to assess the economic and commercial diplomacy status.
Boaz Ninsiima, the committee chairperson, said they intended to assess the level of promotion of economic and commercial diplomacy at the border and facilitation of movement between the borders.
The committee observed that the construction of the one-stop border post building commenced in July 2014, with funds from the World Bank and the Government of Uganda.
Amugoli General Enterprises Limited which was awarded the contract, halted construction because of non-payment and the World Bank also pulled out due to breach of contract.
This, Ninsiima said, affected the smooth operation of business because work was halted and resumed in 2022.
Ninsiima noted that Eng. Ivan Eyatu, a Supervisor at Amugoli General Enterprises, revealed that the building intended to house different offices and amenities of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and Immigration Control among others, was completed and had been handed over to URA, however the building is reportedly riddled with cracks and that the ceiling is almost collapsing
Cue in................................................................Hon. Ninsiime Boaz
Meanwhile, Bukoto East Member of parliament Ronald Evans Kanyike also raised the issue concerning the compensation of Ugandan traders operating along the Rwanda-Uganda Katuna border that were affected by the abrupt closure of the border in February 2019 after Rwanda accused Uganda of abducting its citizens and supporting rebels seeking to topple President Paul Kagame.
While debating on the floor of parliament Kanyike noted that a section of Traders are still stuck with accumulated loans since some goods which were impounded in Rwanda after the border closure were returned to them.
Cue in.........................................................................Hon. Ronald Evans Kanyike
In the report, it was pointed out that the one-stop border post had no lighting despite its 24-hour operation, lacked barrier gates and lacked necessary services like financial services, equipment and telecommunication services.
Regional affairs state minister John Mulimba promised to return to parliament today with a statement on Uganda’s relationship with South Western Neighbor Rwanda
By
Mumbejja Joy Ndagire@parliament
