The Parliamentary Committee on Tourism, Trade, and Industry has recommended the immediate termination of the contract with Helmsman Quality and Technology Services Ltd. (HQTS), a private company tasked with providing pre-export verification conformity services.
HQTS is one of the companies contracted by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards to inspect and verify goods as required by the World Trade Organization Bureau.
Catherine Lamwaka, the Committee Chairperson, while presenting the findings to Parliament on October 4, 2023, noted that the company does not exist in Dubai, China, or Uganda.
“We invite UNBS to respond to these issues and explain case by case because we believe the eligibility criteria for all six companies were not followed in pre-qualification by the technical evaluation committee. UNBS should terminate the contract with the company,” said Lamwaka.
The Committee further recommended that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) investigate the circumstances under which HQTS was awarded the contract.
Thomas Tayebwa, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, differed on the report and said ample time is required to study the document.
“In two weeks’ time, let us have a debate on this matter and conclude that we should not lose focus and that the trade minister should investigate decisions taken by UNBS,” said Tayebwa.
Harriet Ntabazi, Minister of State for Trade, Tourism, and Cooperatives, acknowledged that UNBS is faced with leadership challenges, which are the cause of such occurrences.
“UNBS officials were summoned to my office twice; we advised that since there was a matter before the PPDA Tribunal, UNBS should go back and re-procure two companies, not one. I will, however, follow up on why UNBS is not complying with PPDA Tribunal recommendations,” Natabazi said.
The other companies contracted by UNBS to inspect and verify goods as required are Bureau Veritas Uganda, Intertek International Limited, Quality Inspections and Services Inc. Japan, TUV Rhein Land Middle East, and Societe General Desurveilance.
