UCAA demanding UN sh109b over Entebbe base

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Former international affairs state minister, James Boliba Baba, has called for a review of the agreement that designated Entebbe as a regional United Nations base.

He raised the concern on August 18, 2024, during a meeting between the parliamentary committee on physical infrastructure chaired by Dan Kimosho (Kazo county, NRM) and officials from the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA). The latter were led by the director general Fred Bamwesigye.

The Regional Service Centre in Entebbe (RSCE) came into being fifteen years ago through a General Assembly resolution. It serves as an administrative, logistical and provides ICT services to eighteen United Nations (UN) missions in Africa.

“We should have been rewarded for this centre. Now why is the Government again paying? I know we are trying to get favours, so that be quickly agreed to here, but I think it’s time we reviewed this position so that the UN can begin to pay and expand this centre as a regional centre for UN operations for Africa,” Baba said.

Earlier, Bamwesigye informed MPs that, under the agreement, the Government had committed to covering the centre’s expenses, a financial burden that, he noted, is partially impeding their operations.

This has not been helped by the Government’s subvention which has stagnated to sh3bb. 

“This debt has accumulated to sh109b. In fact, I am sure of another debt for Uganda Airlines which is sh63b. Again, the Government continues to really not solve this problem. You can imagine if we got this money what would happen at Entebbe,” he cited.

Bamwesigye suggested that Uganda could have pressured the UN to either pay for its stay or vacate, but acknowledged the limitations of national authority over international agreements.

“Our powers stop in the country, these are international instruments that we cannot override,” he added.

MPs comments

“How do we help you to ensure that this money comes? Because if we can call a PSST really why can’t he pay you. Why should you beg for the services you have rendered?” Nathan Byanyima (Bukanga North, NRM) posed.

“There was one time before you came in, DG, when the amount of money that was owed to civil aviation could almost mount to three quarters of the loan you wanted. How do we help you?

Govt

However, finance minister Matia Kasaija urged the committee to clearly articulate the issue before seeking government intervention, stating that, as it stands, the problem remains unclear.

“Have they applied for money and money has not been given to them or what? Go back to those Members of Parliament. You can tell them, look, the minister for finance I have talked to him, he just doesn’t understand your problem,” Kasaija told New Vision Online in a telephone conversation on Tuesday.