By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
The Inspector General of Government has directed the acting KCCA director Frank Rusa Nyakaana to halt with immediate effect the operations of Jaspong Group of Companies, a Ghanaian investor contracted by the government to manage the Kiteezi Garbage Landfill.
In a letter dated Thursday 17th October , 2024, IGG, Beti Namisango Tirwomwe Kamya raised concerns about alleged irregularities in the procurement of the investor, and called for an investigation into matter.
Last week, the State Minister for Kampala, Kabuye Kyofatogabye disclosed that the government had handed over Kiteezi landfill to a Ghanaian investor, Jaspong Group Company to manage and stabilize the site at no cost, a move the IGG has now put under investigation.
According to the IGG, the company was handpicked without considering all the government procurement procedures as provided for under the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets (PPDA) Act, and that no due diligence was conducted before contracting this investor. She says this a frustration to companies which were left out.
The IG also raised concerns about unclear funding of Jaspong company, and questioned how the company would recoup returns of their investment. This was after the investor indicated that it had offered to manage Kiteezi landfill at no cost to government.
Additionally, the IG reported that environment risk assessment was not done to assess the impact of the investor on the environment. Kamya said relevant authorities such as National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) and KCCA were not consulted before awarding the investor a contract. She ordered for a halt of this project before the company starts its operations.
“You are therefore hereby directed to halt all transactions with Jaspong Group of Companies who have been engaged to manage the Kiteezi landfill until this office completes investigations or issues further orders on the matter,” IGG Kamya said.
The decision to stop the project was warmly welcomed by the Kampala Lord Mayor Ssalongo Erias Lukwago who said some “mafias” have turned Kiteezi into a lucrative business.
Lukwago noted that whereas it is his wish for the Kiteezi dumpsite challenge to be quickly resolved and victims compensated, a few individuals are bent on using the situation as an opportunity to enrich themselves out of the tragedy.
He asked for a thorough investigation and suggested that those found culpable for the Kiteezi tragedy should be prosecuted without exceptions.
