KAMPALA. A total of 299 companies that have been supplying food to police have protested demanding payment of Shs30b arrears.
The suppliers yesterday told journalists in Kampala that they would suspend supplying maize flour and beans to police until government pays them.
“It’s unfortunate, but we are going to stop supplying food to police,” said Mr Badru Ssempala Kisitu, the chairman of the traders under Police Suppliers Association.
Mr Kisitu said the arrears are since 2016.
“Whenever you complain about delayed payments, new companies are pre-qualified and given the business to supply,” he said.
The police spokesperson, Mr Fred Enanga, told Daily Monitor that the arrears were taken to the Ministry of Finance as domestic arrears.
“This issue is being handled by the Ministry of Finance. All domestic arrears were taken over by Finance and an audit by Ernst & Young has been completed and thereafter, they will agree on a structural arrangement to pay,” he said.
“We have tried to meet relevant offices including the Inspector General of Police, Undersecretary in Internal Affairs, Director of Logistics and Engineering in Police but we are promised myths yet we do business using loans,” Mr Kisitu said.
He was franked by more than 30 suppliers who said they would petition Parliament’s Committee on Budget for intervention.
With most of the suppliers operating on loans, Mr Kisitu said some of their colleagues have gone into hiding to avoid the pursuing money lenders.
Complaints
Traders. This is the third time police suppliers are protesting over delayed payments since 2012.
With most of the suppliers operating on loans, Mr Kisitu said some of their colleagues have gone into hiding to avoid the pursuing money lenders.
Mr Kisitu said the current rate of food supplies is at Shs300,000 per 100kg bag of maize flour, and shs310,000 for beans to feed more than 43,000 police personnel.
By Daily Monitor
