| Mr. Katusiime
Again? |
|
Rank Consult of computer cheat Frank Katusiime is
gambling out its luck on the $20 million computerised driving permit
contract from the ministry of Works, Transport and Communications. In this
issue, we warn that Mr Katusiime has a track record of dubious computer
deals with government that in end went wrong.
The Electoral
Commission (EC) had all along said its computerised facial recognition
system could as well be used to produce computerised driving permits and
national identity cards. But after Mr Katusiime and his Rank Consult
failing to install the EC's multi-million dollar system, he is hob-nobbing
with some officials in the ministry of works to ensure that he wins the
contract.
And as everyone knows, Mr Katusiime is not the right man
to handle a computerisation contract of such magnitude; his record speaks
for itself. Even the Auditor General has queried his work and recommended
legal action against Rank Consult. In this issue, we highlight only two
out of the more than ten contracts which Rank Consult has messed up. Last
Saturday, The New Vision published a story about how the ministry of
Works, Transport and Communications is to introduce computerised driving
permits in the country starting next year.
John Ndyomugyenyi of
the National Road Safety Council was quoted as saying that the ministry
and the licensing board were working on the project. The introduction of
the computerised driving permits is intended to eliminate forged driving
permits. The introduction of the new permits will reportedly coincide with
a national drivers testing exercise next year. �The computerised permits
are coming but are for only those who shall pass the national drivers�
testing exercise,� the officil was quoted as saying.
The same day,
The Monitor came out with an insert of an advertisement poster by Rank
Consult. The Rank Consult poster had the following message. "Rank Consult
(U) Ltd presents the ICDL TM to Uganda. "Looking for a Job? wFinding a job
is much easier if you have an International Computer Driving Licence TM
(ICDL). wLarge multinationals have adopted the ICDL. In at least one
country you can only get a job with the civil service if you have an ICDL.
wAiming for promotion? The International Computer Driving Licence TM
(ICDL) is proof that you can use a computer effectively. w Further
studies? Most universities give recognition and credit for the
International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) w Overseas? The
International Computer Driving licence TM (ICDL) is recognised in over 40
countries and territories. More than one million people in Western Europe
have an ICDL or are registered to get one. wWhat is an International
Computer Driving Licence? Candidates have to pass tests in seven modules:
(1) Basic Concepts of IT; (2) Using a Computer and Managing Files; (3)
Word Processing; (4) Spreadsheets; (5) Databases; (6) Presentation Tools;
(7) Information and Communication. wAll but the first module test
practical skills rather than theory. Test consist of tasks chosen at
random of typical day � to � day computer applications. The International
Computer Driving Licence is a qualification indicating what you can
actually do. w The seven tests may be taken in any order at any test
centre in any country and over a period of time not exceeding three years.
Anyone who has completed at least four (any four) modules may surrender
the Skills Log Book and will be issued an ICDL Start Certificate. wWho
sets the standards? The European Union commissioned the Council for
European Informatics Professionals (CEPIS) to set the standards for the
ICDL. The work of maintaining and updating the standards is carried out by
the European Computer Driving Licence TM Foundation. In most of sub-Sahara
Africa the ICDL is administered by the ICDL Foundation of South Africa.
wGetting your ICDL is simple (it is not easy, but it simple): Buy an ICDL
Skills Log book from your nearest training or test centre or directly from
the ICDL foundation; Get the training from your Favourite training centre
and pass the seven tests (one for each module). Each test you pass is
stamped in your Skills Log Book. (The cost of training and testing will
vary from centre to centre). "Once you have passed all seven modules, send
your Skills Log Book to the ICDL office � your International Computer
Driving Licence will be issued without any further costs." Although Mr
Katusiime is trying to confuse the public by giving the impression that
his "driving permit" is a computer literacy certificate, there is no doubt
that he and some ministry of transport officials are scheming to do the
job the Electoral Commission (EC) wanted to do using its facial
recognition system. The EC system was initially intended to: m Utilize
technology based on either the implementation of the MIT developed
Eigneface algorithm or the Face It R engine or similar engines for Facial
Recognition Verification and Identification. mEnroll 10 million frontal
images within 60 days. mPerform automated facial match processing. mFacial
match results for an input batch of 25,000 images to be completed within
24 hours. mTo configure facial match analysis to utilize demographic data.
The data would include gender, age and height range mFacial match reports
viewable through a delivered work station with installed report viewing
software. mThe system was to include a second workstation for the purpose
of investigation facial matches. mThe workstation was supposed to be
capable of retrieving enrolled facial images and then performing a one to
one and a one to many may search on the retrieved images. mThe facial
system was supposed to be capable of returning matches results from a
single investigate search request within six seconds from receipt of
request. mThe system was meant to provide the option for future growth and
scalability. mRank Consult was supposed to supply both Hardware and
Software for a facial recognition system for 10 million persons in a
database with pictures acquired by digital cameras. Rank Consult (U)
Ltd/Omicron Corp. Inc. claimed that they had the required professional
skills, personnel and technical resources to ensure that the software and
equipment purchased enabled the EC realize the set objectives. sEnsure the
compatibility of the equipment and software that was purchased. sDesign
the network of the equipment as well as its outlay to ensure that the EC
derives maximum efficiency. sEnsure that the equipment delivered is
complete and ready for use in cases where the equipment will be supplied
preloaded with the necessary software. sSupervise the installation of the
network and test it to ensure that it is in good working condition.
sIntegrate all the software and the equipment mentioned above to ensure
that the EC realizes its objectives. sTrain staff of the EC in the use and
trouble shooting of the software and the equipment. sProvide any other
programmes, which in the opinion of the integrator/Firm will be necessary
in the installation and use of the equipment. sRank Consult would be
available to give technical advisory services and assistance to the EC
through the entire period of the production of the voter�s cards and
software. The contract was signed on the 23rd of January 2001. The 15th
December, 2000 was the date on which the contract came into effect while
the 22nd of December was the date on which Rank Consult was supposed to
have commenced services. The period of the contract was for 180 days from
the effective date of the contract. The above mentioned services were to
be provided by Rank Consult at a contract price of $995,000, payable in
instalments, based on specific benchmarks to be met by Rank Consult. As it
turned out, the benchmarks were disregarded apparently due to none
performance on both sides. Due to the failure of the Government to deliver
all the required items within the time frame, the services could not be
undertaken on time by Rank Consult. On the 27th of November 2001 the
parties entered into another contract and Rank Consult undertook to do
extra work of transferring (migrating) date from M/S Access to Oracle and
updating the voters register. For this the client agreed to pay $1,751,640
over and above the initial Contract price. Strangely, Rank Consult billed
the EC $984,000 for additional 82 licences for software in December 2001
and that amount was the subject of dispute. Any disputes arising out of
the contract are first supposed to be settled through arbitration. It is
important to note that Rank Consult was not supposed to procure any
material for client. It is also important to note that in EC deal there
were two contracts. The second contract is for $ 1,751,640.00 and it is
not clear why the second contract for extra work was even commissioned. In
the end, a contract that was originally supposed to cost only $995,000 was
corruptly increased to $4,217,640. (1) Original contract ($995,000); (2)
Second contract which was not bidded for ($1,751,640); (3) Although
Katusiime was supposed to only integrate, not to supply, he supplied a
programme called �EYE & HANDS� without bidding ($487,000); (4)
Similarly Mr. Katusiime supplied 82 licenses again without bidding
($984,000). The total of these payments was $4,217,640, in the following
manner. Case II In the current Auditor General's report, Mr Katusiime's
name again comes up in respect of a botched computerisation programme at
the Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project. A contract agreement
was signed between the project and M/S Euromarkint/Rank Consult to design
and implement a management information system. The special conditions of
the contract stated that the consultants would complete the contract and
deliver the services within 12 months ending October 2000. To date,
$289,799.55 (Shs520 million) has been paid to the consultants. Not
withstanding the fact that the contract completion period expired more
than a year ago, no contract performance has been witnessed as there is no
management information system in place. The response of the management of
the LVEMP was that after the consultants failed to complete the work with
the time limit, the national secretariat wrote a letter to the Solicitor
General seeking advice on the steps to take to terminate the contract and
to recover the money. However, the consultants reportedly explained that
developing and installing management information systems takes time
especially when you have to incorporate changes and train staff in the
system being developed. In October 2001, the consultants embarked on the
process of finalising the work by accelerating staff training and
incorporating the recommended changes, the management said. Auditor
General's conclusion: The matter requires urgent attention because the
project is expected to close on December 31, 2002. Legal redress should be
sought to ensure appropriate action is taken against the consultants in
the event of undue late delivery/non-delivery or substandard levels of
work. |
The Mulindwas
communication group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in
anarchy"
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