Agness Nandutu & Joseph Mugisa
21 September 2007
Fort Portal — MEMBERS of Parliament on the ICT committee were on Wednesday shocked to find that Uganda Communication Commission had established a $40,000 ICT centre in Fort Portal and handed it to a businessman free of charge.
UCC reportedly established the centre in 2004 and handed it to the assistant Town Clerk, Mr Thomas Rabwoni, who runs it under Rafrisa Info Services.
The MPs questioned the manner in which the facility worth millions of shillings was given to the businessman. Mr Wilfred Kajeke asked for the agreement between UCC and the businessman and whether he was required to remit some money to the government.
"This is a facility worth millions of money. How did it come to the hands of an individual and why him?"
But Mr Rabwoni said he had agreed with UCC that he would sustain the operation of the centre for five years. "It was advertised and we applied and went through all legal procedures. We also make sure that we pay the taxes, utility bills and all operational expenses," he said. He said he has trained more than 100 people in ICT but could not present the documentary evidence.
UCC manager of the Rural Communications Development Fund Bob Lyazi, said the terms are universal to all ICT centres established countrywide. He said UCC starts up projects and hands them over to private people to inspire the private sector to start more projects that can market ICT. "This is not in isolation. We begin the project, advertise it and give them to individuals after a well-spelled out agreement. If we do not do this, nobody can start ICT," he said. "Our job is to set up such facilities in needy places to attract private people to set up more."
He said all people interested in taking over the facilities get performance bonds worth the money invested. "The bank keeps their land title or any other surety to acquire performance bonds. If one fails to operate it for five years, he loses the title and the bank pays us. But if he is successful for five years, he takes over completely," he said.
He said the ICT centres are set up to offer training to the local community and that UCC has established similar projects in 56 districts.
But the MPs questioned why the district authorities were not aware of the facility yet it was started by the government.
When the MPs asked the district authorities to guide them to the ICT centre, they said they were not aware of the location of the facility. They said they were not aware that it was a government project.
Mr Lyazi could not explain why he did not go through the district.
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