Cosase told that Aki Bua Stadium construction started without architectural designs

By Ivan mubiru

The Parliamentary probe into Aki Bua stadium construction has claimed the scalp of Mark Tivu, the Lira Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) who was on Wednesday arrested and handed over to Parliamentary CID.

Tivu, who was appearing before the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase) with his Technical Officer, is said to have admitted that Aki Bua Stadium construction started without any architectural design.

He is expected to provide more and clear information why the district sanction the move.

Last month, Omara Apitta, the commissioner of physical education under the Education and Sports ministry was arrested and taken to Luzira Prison for the alleged mismanagement of Shs665m advanced for stadium works in the district.

Tivu’s admission on Wednesday shed more light on the graft that has engulfed the construction of the stadium in memory of Olympic Gold medalist John Aki Bua.

During the meeting, Cosase heard that even the shed – a lone structure supposed to pass off as a 200-seater pavilion – plus a pit latrine were constructed without any architectural plan what so ever.

Last month however, Tivu reportedly said the district had only received Shs300 million that they spent on clearing the 12-acre, site which involved uprooting trees, levelling the ground, opening boundaries and access roads, draining the swamp, construction of a pit latrine and the construction of a 200-seater pavilion.

Government insists Shs665million was sent to the district, with the Ministry of Education and Sports Undersecretary Aggrey Kibenge saying Lira requisitioned for the said money which was sent to them.

It has also been established that the ministry sent more money outside the already known Shs665 million for this stadium mainly to compensate people who were growing trees and crops on land already owned by government. However, it is understood no agreement or MOU was made with the recipients over their compensation.

“The total money sent for Aki Bua Stadium now goes up to about Shs1.2 billion,” a source during the meeting

On Thursday, a team from the National Council of Sports will meet with legislators sitting on Cosase. They are expected to give answers to queries  regarding a Shs800m loan acquired in 2013/14 and then later audit reports from 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17.