Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - November 3, 2005
Alfred Wasike and Jude Etyang
Dr. Pitto Jjemba, the 16th witness appearing for the 3rd day, yesterday confessed to the judicial inquiry into the mismanagement of the Global Fund on AIDS, TB and malaria, "I acknowledge this was contrary to regulation 172(1) of the Procurement and Public Assets Disposal Act. That allegation is correct."
The Justice Ogoola commission pinned Jjemba to admit that following the irregular tendering, the PMU procured more expensive desktop computers from MFI Computer Solutions, rejecting cheaper ones from MS Technology Associates.
Jjemba admitted that the PMU spent US$415 more to purchase five computers. He also admitted that an LCD projector was bought at an extra US$1,831.05 from MFI yet MS Technology Associates were cheaper.
The probe's lead counsel, Phillip Karugaba, put it to Jjemba that MS Technology Associates had both compliant and cheaper desktop computers and that, according to the procurement regulations, the PMU was obliged to buy the cheaper computers. Jjemba affirmed.
PWC, in a report that led to the suspension of the Fund in July, claimed that PMU's evaluation of bids for computer suppliers included criteria that were not part of the original specifications in the contract documents. The original contract had one specification for the computer server but in the evaluation report for the bids, two other specifications had been smuggled in.
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