The coordinator of the Forestry Management Support Project – PAFOR; Athanase Rwikiriza, was arrested yesterday for an alleged tender rip-off.

Prosecution spokesperson, Augustine Nkusi told The New Times, Sunday, that the man in question had often given money to an association owned by his family, instead of following the normal tendering processes.

"PAFOR have lots of funds and Rwikiriza was issuing tenders to his own association called ASDF-Abanyamugambi, without following the stipulated procedures,” said Nkusi.

Rwikiriza’s daughter is the President of ASDF the same association that her mother served as President previously.
Nkusi could not divulge more details of the case saying the dossier was still under investigation.

There was also scanty information as to how an association and not a company could legally vie for tenders.

The 2006 Auditor General’s report presented in January 2008 indicated that huge sums estimated at Rwf 5.3bn had not been accounted for in different institutions.
In PAFOR alone, about Rwf77 m was reportedly embezzled.

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