MINIFRA top official arrested over tender scam

KIGALI - The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Vincent Gatwabuyege, has been arrested, reportedly for flouting tender procedures in a road rehabilitation programme, Sunday Times can reveal. Gatwabuyege was arrested on Friday and detained by police as investigations into his alleged involvement in the illegal tendering continue. According to Linda Bihire, the Minister of Infrastructure, the tender was for the rehabilitation of rural roads in November 2006. “The investigation is still in its primary stage and we cannot give you full details now,” Bihire said in a telephone interview yesterday evening. She said the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was still analyzing his file and questioning him. “We have not yet affirmed the charges,” Bihire said while confirming that the permanent secretary was in custody at the CID headquarters. The police spokesman Willy Marcel Higiro, said that Gatwabuyege is suspected of being involved in tender irregularities for the rehabilitation of Bugesera-Nemba, Butare-Kibeho and Mudasomwa-Gisovu roads. “He will be produced in court to explain what happened. Leaders should do their work in an honest manner,” Higiro said. As a technical person in the ministry, the PS has the last word before a tender is approved. Irregularities in the awarding of tenders in some ministries has in the past raised concern with persistent reports of government officials awarding tenders without following the normal procedures. The Auditor General’s reports have previously indicated that public finances have been mismanaged through illegal tendering. The AG’s report of 2006 indicated that some institutions awarded tenders worth Frw3.8 billion without the approval of the National Tender Board (NTB). It also showed that tenders valued at over Frw7.8 billion were sanctioned without proof of internal tender committees. Gatwabuyege’s arrest comes weeks after another Permanent Secretary, Justin Nsengeyumva of the Ministry of Education, was picked up for soliciting a bribe from a businessman, Moses Byaruhanga before his payment could be approved. Nsengiyumva later escaped from police custody and is still on the run. Ends