IGG to investigate Katuna Border Post construction

The Committee on Foreign Affairs conducted an oversight visit to the Katuna Border Post, between Uganda with Rwanda, to assess the economic and commercial diplomacy status.

The committee observed that the construction of the one-stop border post building commenced in July 2014, with funds from the World Bank and the Government of Uganda but construction was halted because of non-payment and the World Bank also pulled out due to breach of contract.

Amugoli General Enterprises Limited had been awarded the contract at the time and construction only resumed this year, after eight years of negatively affected business.

Ninsiima noted that Eng. Ivan Eyatu, a Supervisor at Amugoli General Enterprises, revealed that the building intended to house different offices and amenities of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and Immigration Control among others, was completed and had been handed over to URA.

“We were concerned to find the said building in a sorry state with cracks in the wall and a collapsing ceiling,” he said, adding that, “Eyatu insisted that the cracks were part of the building’s architectural design”.

In the report, it was pointed out that the one-stop border post had no lighting despite its 24-hour operation, lacked barrier gates and lacked necessary services like financial services, equipment and telecommunication services.

The committee noted that the road connecting Katuna and Gatuna especially on the Uganda side needed rehabilitation to protect the image of the country.

Kabale district Woman MP, Hon. Catherine Ndamira, said that as district leaders, they had opposed the utilisation of the Katuna Border Post because of its poor state and are afraid that it will collapse.

To that end, the committee proposed that the Auditor General conducts a forensic audit into the structure and reports back to Parliament.