Government finally reviewed the agreements with Kalangala Infrastructural Services Limited-KIS to manage key services in Kalangala following protests from residents and area leaders. In 2010, government signed agreements with KIS to manage water and electricity supply, operate ferry services and expand Luku-Bugoma-Kalangala Road.
But last month, officials from Kalangala district, residents and civil society organizations rejected the agreements saying they were not consulted before the agreements were signing. They threatened to block KIS from taking over the projects and petitioned President Yoweri Museveni. Last week, Museveni convened a meeting involving top Kalangala officials, ministers and the management of KIS over the controversial agreements.
It is alleged that during the meeting, Museveni condemned the manner in which three government ministries signed the agreements without consulting the relevant district authorities. They are Ministry of finance, works and transport and Constitutional Affairs Ministry. Museveni ordered for the immediate review of the agreements and removal of contentious clauses that led protests from residents.
On Thursday, KIS signed fresh agreements with Kalangala district authorities to manage the services. Deo Kayiwa Nsereko, the Kalangala RDC, Willy Lugoloobi, LC5 Chairman and Bujumba MP Fred Badda who signed the agreements on behalf of the district, say that they are satisfied with the changes in the new agreements. Kayiwa explains that under the new agreement, government will pay for ferry services.
// Cue in: “ Our fears are that…….”
Cue out: “……other places.”//
Fred Badda, Bjumba MP, who had threatened to mobilize residents to demonstrate says that he is happy with the reviewed agreements. According to Badda says that he was particularly unhappy with the previous agreements which had given KIS monopoly of key projects in the district. He says that Badda now says they have set up a committee to ensure that KIS limited implements whatever they have agreed on in the reviewed agreements.
// Cue in: “The exclusivity clause…..”
Cue out: “…..ferry is going to come.”//
John Opillo, the Managing director KIS says that his company is ready to begin work immediately they receive the reviewed agreements. He says that the new ferry service is likely to start within a space of two months when they finalize with the paper work.
