PHOTO: Eng. Dr. Ben Manyindo is the Executive Director of Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS)
The Trade Committee of Parliament has ordered the Bureau of Standards to halt the selection process for a firm to carry out pre-shipment verification of motor vehicle imports.
This directive was revealed by the deputy chairperson of the Committee Alex Ruhunda who chaired the maiden meeting of the committee that kick-started investigations into the alleged mismanagement of the pre-shipment verification of conformity (PVOC) by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS).
The matter was referred to the committee by the Speaker following a motion moved by Kenneth Lubogo the MP for Bulamogi County.
Lubogo told the committee that a Japanese company known as JEVIC has colluded with UNBS to irregularly win an extension to its contract that runs out this year, the new contract gives it exclusive rights for the entire Ugandan car import market for the next three years.
Lubogo reveals that the same company sued UNBS for breach of contract in 2013 after UNBS concurrently hired two other firms and ended its exclusivity. Court awarded JEVIC Shs2.4 billion.
He says that the court damages were occasioned by the incompetence of UNBS that should have terminated its contract with JEVIC instead of breaching it.
He adds that JEVIC is incompetent and has been banned from carrying out business in a number of countries including Kenya.
Alex Ruhunda disclosed that the committee has set itself a tight deadline of the 7th of March for the completion of the investigation but promises that they will get to the bottom of the matter.
He assures the nation that anyone found culpable of any impropriety will be held accountable.
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