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New permits company fails to takeover, Face Technologies' contract extended
People queue for driving permit renewals and replacement at the Face Technologies centre in Kyambogo, Kampala, on October 30. PHOTO/DAVID LUBOWA.
What you need to know:
Uganda Security Printing Company (USPC) was established in 2018, spear headed by government-owned Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation, in a joint venture with Veridos, a German company.
Face Technologies, the company mandated to issue driving permits, closed their offices on Monday after their contract expired.
However, the Ministry of Works and Transport said it has decided to extend the company’s contract to ensure people get services as government prepares the new company, Uganda Security Printing Company (USPC), to take over.
The ministry has been facing allegations of corruption on how USPC was selected.
In an interview with Daily Monitor yesterday, Ms Susan Kataike, the spokesperson of the ministry, said they have agreed that the services will resume on Thursday.
“We are in a transition period with Face Technologies. Their contract expired, but they are still around for three more months. The contract was a build, operate and transfer contract and that is why the Ministry is taking over the programme and is working with the USPC. We are hoping that by Thursday, they will be operating,” Ms Kataike said.
However, one of the officials at Face Technologies, who preferred to remain anonymous, told Daily Monitor that they are still waiting for official communication from the ministry before they resume.
When asked why they did not start work as required, Mr George Mugerwa, the chief executive officer of USPC, said he would call back. He had not called back by press time.
However, Ms Kataike said Covid-19 also frustrated USPC from starting to operate.
“Right now, Covid-19 has affected so many things. They were also expecting certain materials and equipment to start operating but they couldn’t get them on time,” she said.
It is still unclear why the government refused to grant a five-year management transition contract before the ministry takes over as Parliament had agreed last year.
The ministry signed a contract with Face Technologies in 2003 for purposes of designing, printing and supplying computerised driving permits under the self-financing, build, operate and transfer basis.
Mr Hamson Obua, the Ajuri County MP who tabled the motion, explained that the transition period will help government to recruit and train Ugandans to manage the facility that is currently housed in Kyambogo in Kampala.
Mr Obua also said the company had made tremendous achievements such as the collection of non-tax revenue for the government.
However, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Bageya Waiswa, said USPC will introduce a fresh layer in services for computerised driving permits.
“Our expectations are that USPC will take this service to the next level, way above, where it is in line with the Service Level Agreement,” Mr Bageya said.
The issuance of driving licences under Face Technologies, a South African company is, however, one of the best services in the country receiving many positive reviews.
The ministry said the card design to be produced by USPC is International Standards Organisation (ISO) compliant and that it can be used in East Africa Community (EAC), Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) regions, even at a Global level.
BACKGROUND
Uganda Security Printing Company (USPC) was established in 2018, spear headed by government-owned Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation, in a joint venture with Veridos, a German company.
Veridos is credited for having the most secure enrolment and personalised systems, according to the ministry.
The managing director of USPC is Mr George Mugerwa.
According to the contract, the company was supposed to start operations on December 1 and they have been given space by government to establish the national office at Uganda Railways Cooperation headquarters in Kampala.
