Parliament has demanded the full procurement file for a specialised fire-fighting vehicle bought by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) for Shs5.3985 billion, as MPs investigate how the cost was determined.
The demand was made on Tuesday by the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) during a meeting with UCAA officials to examine issues raised in the Auditor General’s report.
The scrutiny followed an earlier inspection of Entebbe International Airport, where committee members examined the fire truck but said UCAA had not provided documents confirming its ownership and procurement details.
UCAA subsequently presented the registration book for motor vehicle UA38070AA, showing that it was registered on June 22, 2026, with the authority listed as the owner.
The vehicle is a Lion 6X6 Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) truck manufactured in Turkey and fitted with a Scania engine. Its registration documents classify it as an engineering plant.
However, the registration documents did little to ease MPs’ concerns over the Sh5.3985 billion price tag.
COSASE Chairperson Muwada Nkunyingi pressed UCAA officials to explain how the authority arrived at the purchase price and provide evidence of the procurement process.
“How much was this truck? How much did it cost? Who bought it?” Nkunyingi asked, demanding details of the vehicle’s specifications and features that would justify its cost.
UCAA Director General Fred Bamwesigye defended the expenditure, explaining that the vehicle is specialised aircraft rescue equipment rather than an ordinary fire engine.
Samuel Wonekha, the Acting Director of Airports, told the committee that the truck has a 12,500-litre water tank, foam equipment and specialised tools used to gain access to damaged aircraft and rescue passengers.
He added that it has a specialised generator capable of powering equipment used to cut through aircraft during rescue operations.
UCAA officials further told the MPs that the authority secured the vehicle at a lower price than similar aircraft rescue and fire-fighting equipment purchased by other airports in the region after negotiating with the suppliers.
The explanation did not satisfy the committee, which said it needed documentary evidence showing how the final price was reached.
COSASE directed its researchers to establish the market price of similar Lion 6X6 ARFF vehicles and compare it with the amount paid by UCAA.
The committee also asked the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) to verify the authenticity of the vehicle’s registration documents and establish whether it is genuinely owned by UCAA.
UCAA was given until close of business to submit the complete procurement file, including documents detailing the procurement process, supplier, technical specifications, negotiations and final purchase price.
The committee said the documents would help determine why UCAA paid more than Shs5.3 billion for the vehicle and whether the cost was justified by its specifications.
“What is the uniqueness? How did you arrive at this cost?” the committee asked.
Meanwhile, COSASE also raised concerns over a transformer reportedly procured from Vietnam at a cost of about Shs2.3 billion. The committee said the equipment had not been delivered by the time MPs inspected the airport.
