Kampala — A TOP official of the Uganda National Roads Authority has been interrogated over claims that bid documents for road works in Masaka were tampered with to reflect a higher cost.

Eng. David Luyimbazi, the director planning at the agency, yesterday reported to the Criminal Investigations Directorate's economic crimes unit at about 9:00am.

According to the directorate's publicist, Fred Enanga, Luyimbazi recorded a statement with Charles Mutungi, a unit detective.

Luyimbazi left the directorate head office at Kibuli in Kampala at 10:00pm.

He was interrogated over road works on Masaka-Kyotera and Masaka-Villa Maria roads, which were under his jurisdiction.

Five construction companies namely Dott Services, Cementers, Multiplex, Omega Construction and Stirling that formed a consortium with Spencon, submitted bids.

Dott Services, which is said to have quoted the lowest bid (about sh6.7b) emerged victor, scooping the contracts, which were signed on March 4, this year.

Officials from Ministry of Finance and the European Union, the co-funders of the project, are said to have witnessed the ceremony held before the Road Agency Formation Unit, which was later named the Uganda National Roads Authority.

Enanga told journalists yesterday that a whistle-blower alerted John Byabagambi, the works state minister, about an anomaly in the documents submitted by Dott.

"Investigations are underway. We have acquired some documents, which we are scrutinising," he said while referring to the second quotation of about sh9.2b.

"We have two financial offers from Dott. However, the one the minister (Byabagambi) received differs from the one submitted to the authority," he said.

The roads authority boss, Peter Ssebanakita and the administrative manager, only identified as Muhumuza, have been questioned over the matter, Enanga added.

An evaluation committee that scrutinises contracts reportedly confirmed the discrepancy.

However, in an interview, Luyimbazi said the difference in figures was a result of an "arithmetic error" by Dott staff.

"But even after the error was corrected, Dott was still the lowest bidder so the contract could not be revoked. In such a case, the tender is awarded according to the arithmetically corrected offer," he said.