‘Fake’ Academic Papers of ‘Expert’ Working on Entebbe Airport Upgrade Shock Nation; Surveyor Completed School at the age of 13

MPs on the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase) were shocked to learn that one of the ‘experts’ working on the project for the upgrading of Entebbe International Airport could have presented fake academic papers.

The project for the upgrade of the facilities is being undertaken by Seyani Brothers.

Officials from the company appeared before Cosase to answer queries on the progress of works.

The committee, chaired by Nakawa West MP Joel Ssenyonyo, punched holes in the academic documents of Vica Patel, one of the so-called experts working on the project.

MPs learnt that Patel could have obtained a diploma at the age of 13.

It was this man who was among those responsible for the works at the construction site at the country’s main airport.

“Vica Patel, a surveyor, qualified in 2003, but incidentally this Vica Patel was born on March 03, 1990, which means he became a surveyor at the age of 13,” noted Ssenyonyi.

Officials from Seyani Brothers claimed there could have been a typographical error in Patel’s details.

The MPs also suspected fraud in the project, projecting that up to Shs1bn could have been lost.

The committee observed that there were missing pages and alteration of figures.

For example, a figure that initially read Shs725m was said to have been altered to Shs1.725bn.

But Mayesh Seyani, the group’s Managing Director, denied the alterations were done by officials from his company.

“These particular crossings [in the figures and documents] are not our work; that is not my submission,” said Seyani.

Now, Ssenyonyi has directed Seyani Brothers to return to the committee with original bid documents and other requisite papers on February 04.

Seyani Brothers are also expected to appear alongside officials from air transport regulator, the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA).