The Inspector General of Government(IGG) has raised a red flag over the new investor handed Kiteezi landfill for waste management that she says was handpicked without following the due process.
The Ministry for Kampala recently announced Jaspong Group of Companies from Ghana had been contracted to manage waste at Kiteezi landfill to convert it into fertilizers.
However, in an October, 17 letter to acting KCCA Executive Director , Frank Rusa, IGG Beti Kamya says concerns have risen over the manner in which the Ghanian investor was picked to add value to waste at Kiteezi
“It has been raised that Jaspong Group of Companies has just been handpicked in complete disregard of all the government procedures as provided for under the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act. This is despite the fact that other investors had contacted government with the view of investing in the Kiteezi landfill but these were ignored or just frustrated,” the IGG says in the letter.
According to the IGG, she has received reports that the Ghanian company was awarded the tender without going through open bidding process which would have allowed competent entities to express interest in partnering with KCCA.
She says while direct procurement is provided for under Section 91 of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act, this doesn’t take away the need for undertaking due diligence and the necessary feasibility study before engaging a particular investor.
“Jaspong Group of Companies was engaged without carrying out due diligence to establish whether the company possesses the requisite technology and experience to manage a project of such a magnitude. The Kiteezi landfill project has been undertaken without carrying out any feasibility study and therefore its viability is in question,” IGG Kamya says.
Unclear funding
The Inspectorate of Government says the funding of the waste management project at Kiteezi is unclear as the Ghanian company has offered to manage the landfill at no cost to government which she says is questionable.
“This raises questions since one wonders how the company will recoup returns on their investment.”
The IGG adds that no environment impact assessment has been done to assess how the investment by Jaspong Group of Companies will affect the environment, adding that no consultation has been made with relevant stakeholders including NEMA and the political wing at KCCA among others.
The IGG says she has instructed investigations into the deal and consequently directed that the deal be halted.
“You are therefore directed to halt all transactions with Jospong Group of Companies who have been engaged to manage the Kiteezi landfill until this office completes investigations or issues further orders on the matter,” the IGG directs.
