The Water and Environment Ministry spent Shs500 million on repair of a weather radar ahead of the Commonwealth summit and yet the gadget remains non-functional, Daily Monitor has learnt.

According to the Auditor General's report on Chogm expenditures being discussed by Parliament, the ministry received Shs1.08 billion, with Shs515.8 million earmarked for the repair of the radar system in Entebbe to generate better quality signal.

But even after Shs500 million was allegedly paid out to a foreign company, Meteo France International, to repair the gadget, it broke down immediately thereafter.

Explaining the anomaly, Mr David Obong, the permanent secretary, told the Auditor General that the nature of the equipment was sensitive, needing accuracy and precision, adding that international bidding for a mechanic would have taken a minimum of four months.

But the Auditor General, Mr John Muwanga, rejected the explanation, saying the procurement process required open international bidding to guarantee competition and value for money.

The AG also reported that although five international firms were identified for bid invitation, he was not given evidence to show that the other four were invited for bids.

But a written response from Mr Obong ahead of this week's date with the committee says only the French firm responded to the call for bids. He also says the radar was repaired and certified as working, before conceding that it is currently non-functional.

Dead machine:

Engineer AK Nyanzi who compiled a status report in October 2008, said: "After initial repairs, the radar worked well for nearly three months. It then developed a problem with the display. All possible checks and replacement of certain cards has been done but so far no positive results."

The engineer's report said the period of non-functioning was rather long and could have forced invisible small components to give way as the radar was being revived.

He suggests that the expert be re-summoned, an exercise that will need an extra Euros40,000.

The Public Accounts Committee chairman, Mr Nandala Mafabi, warned: "A lot of money was spent but there was no value- for- money and if they fail to explain these, people will be forced to refund our money."