Bsmart Technology Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian IT firm which proposed to inject over $50 million into vehicle digital tracking in Uganda was rejected by Ministry of Security.
The Company provides telematic end-to-end solutions such as integrated commercial vehicle operation and anti-car theft devices.
But instead the Ministry moved to negotiate a deal with a liquidated Russian Firm Joint Stock Company Global Security, it was awarded the contract last week by the new Minister of Security Hon Jim Muhwezi.
However, the announcement aroused queries from the public why an insolvent firm would be contracted to install digital trackers in all vehicles.
Muhwezi, after signing of agreement with the Russians in Kampala announced that car owners would meet installation costs.
President Yoweri Museveni in 2019 said that fixing these trackers into all cars would help to curb criminality.
Museveni engineered this proposal following the assassination of high-ranking government officials and Muslim clerics.
In June, after the attempted assassination on Gen. Katumba Wamala, Museveni said government will move so fast to implement vehicle tracking system.
REJECTED
This website has learned that earlier this year, Ministry of Security received two firms which were all endorsed by State House.
The owners of Bsmart Technology Sdn Bhd after meeting the President highlighted their profile and expertise. They told Museveni that they had installed similar system in Tanzania and other European countries and there was no breach in their system.
Some government officials had raised concerns over the safety considering that the company will handle the country’s data.
They said it is risky to trust a stranger with people’s information.
Maj Gen Proscovia Nalweyiso, the President’s military advisor wrote to (then) Minister of Security Gen. Elly Tumwine.
Nalweyiso informed Gen. Tumwine that the President had advised that both companies can be contracted to implement the project.
While Tumwine received Nalweyiso’s message, he didn’t give the Malaysian firm green light.
He sidelines the company and instead processed documentation for Global Security which had shut its operations in Russia after running bankrupt.
Global Security re-registered as a business entity in this year March, as its directors chased Ugandan deal.
BOOMERANG
Jim Muhwezi has said the project to have Russian Joint Stock Company Global Security install digital trackers in vehicles and motorbikes was in the pipeline before he was appointed Minister.
Reports indicate that the company which was awarded the 10-year contract on Friday last week is facing bankruptcy litigations in Russia and more than a dozen other debt related litigations.
Minister Muhwezi witnessed the signing of the contract. During the signing, he said the contract had been perused and approved by the Solicitor General.
Now, the Minister who has been silent as members of the public condemned him for what they termed as a fraudulent deal, has distanced himself from any wrong doing and assured the country that the signed contract protects Uganda from their expressed fears.