The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) has directed Mbale Municipality to disregard a directive by the Local Lovernment ministry to hand over the management of Mbale taxi park to African Investments Limited.
On September 4, the Minister of Local Government, Kahinda Otafiire, on the advice of the Solicitor General, wrote to the Mbale Town Clerk, Kenneth Katuli, on the taxi park wrangle. He instructed the Council to award the tender to the highest bidder - African Investments Limited - which is owned by former Army Chief of Staff, Major General Joshua Masaba.
Otafire's directive was reconfirmed by his deputy minister, Hope Mwesigye, who on October 3rd ordered Katuli, to award the tender to Masaba to avoid conflicts over the running of the park.
However, the Municipal Authorities said that while Masaba was the highest bidder, his company like the other three bidding firms, did not meet all the tender requirements.
The Mbale Municipal Council sought the advice of the PPDA, asking it to prevail upon the two ministers to respect the Local Government Act, which charges the municipalities with managing their own affairs.
The PPDF Executive Director, Edgar Agaba, has advised the council to re-advertise the tenders for both the Kumi and Mbale taxi parks, with strict adherence to the law. He has also advised the Council to ignore the ministers. He said Otafire and Mwesigye contravened the Local Government Act and the amended Procurement and Disposal Act of 2006.
The speaker of Mbale Municipal council, Abdullah Kutosi, said he is happy with the new directive.
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