The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) Faces Criticism Over Contracting Hardware Company for Software Development
In a recent development, the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE) have raised concerns regarding the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s (UWA) decision to engage a hardware company for software development. This decision has drawn scrutiny following findings by the Auditor General’s report for the financial year ending 2022/23, which revealed significant financial losses amounting to 150 million shillings. The funds were disbursed to an allegedly incompetent company, MFI Solution Limited, tasked with developing software for booking and revenue collection purposes within UWA.
MFI Solution Limited was contracted to create software intended for deployment across various tourism destinations, facilitating tourists’ booking processes and revenue tracking. However, during the committee’s interactions with UWA officials, chaired by Busiro East MP Medard Ssegona and attended by UWA’s Director of Finance, Jimmy Mugisa, it was discovered that UWA’s contracts committee had failed to conduct proper due diligence on MFI Solution Ltd to ascertain its capability to deliver the required software.
Moreover, the committee unearthed additional irregularities in UWA’s procurement procedures. Notably, UWA had entered into an agreement with a Tanzanian company, Prince Orient, for the supply of uniforms for game rangers, amounting to 151 million shillings. However, it was revealed that the company had neglected to pay the required Value Added Tax (VAT).
As a result of these findings, Chairperson Ssegona requested UWA management to furnish the committee with all relevant procurement documents pertaining to these matters for further review and investigation.
