By Watchdog reporter
Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) on Wednesday started investigations into Bank of Uganda’s controversial procurement of 350 branded pens which are estimated to have cost shs125m.
While meeting officials from BoU led by deputy governor Louis Kasekende, committee chairman Abdu Katuntu directed the central bank to submit all documents relating to the procurement of the pens, whose purchase has caused public furor.
“We want to look at the procurements of that occasion when you celebrated… We shall then be looking at other procurement processes in the bank. In all these institutions, we are always having a problem with procurement; so, we are going to take samples from BOU which the committee will look at,” said Katuntu.
BoU procured the pens for distribution during its 50th golden jubilee celebrations and Joseph Mubiru Memorial Lecture in 2016.
According to bank’s procurement details, each pen was bought at Shs357,000.
Talking to NTV, BoU Communications Director Christine Alupo said the money was used not just to procure pens but also other memorabilia for the high profile local and international guests.
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