Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has questioned the procurement of a specialised fire-fighting vehicle by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) at a cost of Sh5.3985 billion.
The committee wants UCAA to provide the complete procurement file to establish how the final price of the vehicle was determined.
The matter arose on Tuesday as COSASE met UCAA officials to examine issues contained in the Auditor General’s audit of the authority.
The scrutiny followed an earlier inspection of Entebbe International Airport, during which MPs examined the vehicle but raised concerns after UCAA failed to provide documents confirming its ownership and procurement history.
UCAA subsequently presented a registration book for motor vehicle UA38070AA, showing that it was registered on June 22, 2026, with UCAA listed as the registered owner.
The vehicle is described as a Lion 6X6 Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle manufactured in Turkey. It is fitted with a Scania engine and is classified in the registration documents as an engineering plant.
However, the registration documents did not resolve questions surrounding the vehicle’s Sh5.3985 billion price tag.
COSASE Chairperson Muwada Nkunyingi pressed UCAA officials to explain the cost, the procurement process and the specific features that justified the expenditure.
“How much was this truck? How much did it cost? Who bought it?” Nkunyingi asked, before demanding details to support the stated price.
UCAA Director General Fred Bamwesigye defended the purchase, explaining that the vehicle is specialised aircraft rescue equipment rather than a conventional fire engine.
Samuel Wonekha, the Acting Director of Airports, told the committee that the vehicle has a water tank with a capacity of about 12,500 litres, foam-fighting equipment and specialised tools designed to gain access to damaged aircraft and facilitate the evacuation of passengers.
He added that the vehicle has a specialised generator that powers equipment used to cut through aircraft during rescue operations.
UCAA officials further told the committee that the vehicle was acquired at a lower price than similar aircraft rescue and fire-fighting equipment purchased by other airports in the region, following negotiations with the suppliers.
The explanation, however, did not convince the MPs, who said they needed documentary evidence showing how the procurement price was reached rather than general information about the vehicle’s capabilities.
The committee directed its researchers to investigate the prevailing market price of similar Lion 6X6 ARFF vehicles and compare it with the amount paid by UCAA.
It also instructed the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) to verify the authenticity of the registration documents and establish whether the vehicle is indeed owned by UCAA.
UCAA was ordered to submit the complete procurement file by close of business, including documents relating to the procurement process, supplier, specifications, negotiations and final purchase price.
“We want to know how yours cost 5.3 billion. What is the uniqueness? How did you arrive at this cost?” the committee asked.
Transformer Procurement Also Questioned
COSASE also raised concerns over a transformer reportedly procured from Vietnam at a cost of about Sh2.3 billion, which had not been delivered by the time MPs conducted their inspection.
The delayed transformer was among the issues previously identified by the committee as requiring clarification from UCAA management.
The latest concerns form part of broader parliamentary scrutiny of UCAA’s procurement practices, management and utilisation of assets following issues raised in the Auditor General’s audit.
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