MPs Demand Immediate Audit of Russian Digital Number Plate Project

Members of Parliament on the Physical Infrastructure Committee are pushing for an immediate investigation into the Russian-operated Intelligent Transport Management System (ITMS), which is responsible for issuing digital number plates. The committee has instructed the Auditor General, Edward Akol, to commence a preliminary audit of the project and present findings by next Tuesday.

This directive was issued after Auditor General Akol appeared before the committee to explain the delay in auditing the ITMS. Akol cited a lack of sufficient information, stating that his office only received the project agreement recently. He also noted that earlier discussions with the Office of the President were not formally documented and mentioned that his office faces staffing challenges, with many employees involved in direct field audits.

Despite the Auditor General’s concerns about the short timeframe and complexity of the system, the MPs, led by Hon. Mwine Mpaka, insisted that an audit must proceed. They questioned why a project, even if in a pilot phase, should be exempt from scrutiny regarding its design, installation, operations, and financial arrangements. Mpaka urged the audit team to document any obstacles, such as denied access to information.

The committee has pledged to support the Auditor General by providing the project’s needs assessment and the agreement details. MPs believe that even a preliminary review can shed light on crucial aspects before a full rollout. The urgency is underscored by the committee’s prior decision to have parliamentary police record statements concerning the audit’s delayed commencement.

Source: https://www.parliament.go.ug/index.php/news/4670/audit-russian-digital-number-plate-firm-mps-ask-auditor-general