KAMPALA- Early this week, Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja made a huge statement when she opened war against substandard goods on the Ugandan market.
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) figures (2018) shows that more than half of the products sold on the Ugandan market are substandard.
According to a countrywide baseline survey conducted by the standards agency in February 2018, 54 per cent of products on the market are either fake or counterfeits, which places them at a high probability of being substandard.
Insiders say that aware of these figures, the premier took to Kasese to inspect the relief to persons affected by the latest floods in the region.
Blankets, mosquito nets and beans were found to be rotten. This was a purchase by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). The rejected assorted items included 40, 000 kgs of maize flour; 20, 000 kgs of beans; 2, 000 kgs of sugar; 2, 000 tarpaulin; 1,350 jerry cans; 1, 000 basins; 100 cartons of laundry soap; 1, 000 mosquito nets and 100 mats.
“Kasese District is not a dumping ground, I have rejected blankets and mosquito nets because they are substandard. The supplier must bring good ones, these are the things that paint a bad image for our government,” Nabbanja said on Tuesday, shortly after arriving in the district.
She ordered government officials to return the items to Kampala but accepted the food items after castigating her team.
“I want the items that I have rejected to be taken back to Kampala, and let the supplier bring better ones. I am going to the Ministry of Health to get better mosquito nets,” Nabbanja said.
She, together with other ministers, including Hilary Onek (Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees) and Godfrey Kabyanga (State for ICT and National Guidance) were in the district to assess the situation and devise a response plan.
DEATH THREATS
Meanwhile, local media are reporting that Nabbanja has said people against her fight on corruption in government have started threatening her.
She reportedly told a meeting of Bunyoro sub – region parliamentary group and journalists last night that some lady had the courage to drive all the way from Kampala to Kakumiro to tell her brother to convey a warning message. The message questioned Nabbanja’s motive in blocking her business channels.
During the same meeting, Nabbanja is said to have re-echoed her commitment to fighting corruption.
She reportedly told the media that she requested for a report on the substandard items which she received but said the report was unconvincing.
Sources say the matter has been referred to the Inspector General of Government (IGG), State House Anti – Corruption unit and the police for investigation.