TENDER WAR! Mbarara Butchers Reject Sh2.99M Slaughter Deal, Threaten to Block New Tenderer
A few members of Butchers in the council meeting at Mbarara City North Division
By Amos Tayebwa
KAMPALA – A bitter tender dispute has erupted in Mbarara City North Division after a group of butchers rejected the award of a lucrative slaughter procurement contract to a new individual, threatening to block her from collecting a single coin from the city’s abattoirs.
The angry butchers, operating under Kenkombe Ababagi Kweterana Association, have accused Mbarara City Council procurement officials of sidelining their association in favour of an individual they claim is barely known in the division.
They have vowed not to recognise the new tenderer, identified as Suzan Ainomugisha, warning that they could abandon the affected slaughter facilities and move their businesses to Ruti Slaughter Centre in Mbarara City South Division if the council does not reverse the decision.
The dispute centres on a slaughter tender covering Kenkombe, Biharwe and Rwebishuri-Kakika abattoirs, all located in Mbarara City North.
For years, the butchers, through their association, have been managing the tender and remitting approximately Shs1.8m monthly to the council.
However, the procurement process has now handed the contract to Ainomugisha at a monthly bid of Shs2.99m, triggering accusations of unfair treatment and questions about how the winning bidder was selected.
Three bidders reportedly participated in the contest: Kenkombe Ababagi Kweterana Association, Sali Bosco and Ainomugisha, who emerged with the highest bid.
But the association insists that its record of consistent payments and long-standing involvement in the slaughter business should have been considered before the contract was handed to an individual.
The matter recently boiled over when association members, led by their chairperson William Kajura, stormed a Mbarara City North Division council meeting to protest the award.
They demanded an explanation from division leaders, insisting that they had never defaulted on their monthly payments to the council and had invested heavily in maintaining the facilities.
The protest was also raised by councillor Robert Twiine, representing Rwemigina Ward, who is also a member of the butchers’ association.
Twiine reportedly challenged the Division Mayor and Town Clerk to engage the Mbarara City Town Clerk and have the procurement process reviewed.
The butchers want the award cancelled and the tender returned to their association.
Kajura accused the procurement office of ignoring what he described as government guidelines that give organised associations priority when public institutions are awarding such tenders.
He questioned why the council would overlook an association that had been managing the facilities and paying revenue consistently in favour of an individual.
“I actually suspect that this tender was not awarded to Suzan as an individual, but there is a person from City Council who is behind her and could be the beneficiary of this tender,” Kajura alleged.
He added: “Because when you look at the so-called Suzan physically, you can tell that she is not fit for that tender.”
The allegations of a possible hidden beneficiary have added another layer to the controversy, with the association demanding greater transparency over the procurement process.
BLOCKADE THREAT
The butchers are now threatening to frustrate the implementation of the new contract, saying Ainomugisha will not collect money from their businesses as long as the award remains in place.
They argue that they are free to relocate their operations to another slaughter facility rather than continue operating under a tender they consider unfairly awarded.
“We shall not allow that person who was awarded the tender to collect any coin from us. If she insists on coming to collect money from there, we shall leave those abattoirs and go to Ruti Slaughter Centre, then we see whom she will collect money from,” one of the protesting members said.
The members insist that no one can force them to remain at the three facilities while the dispute remains unresolved.
“We shall fight until we retain our tender,” they declared.
SHS9M INVESTMENT ROW
Beyond the disputed procurement process, the association has raised another financial grievance, claiming that the council has failed to refund approximately Shs9m it invested in renovating Kenkombe Abattoir.
According to Kajura, the Ministry of Health had previously ordered the closure of the facility pending renovations.
The butchers say they subsequently reached an understanding with Mbarara City Council to contribute their own money towards the renovation, with an assurance that the expenditure would later be refunded.
Kajura says the association injected approximately Shs9m into the works to bring the abattoir back into operation.
The renovated facility was reportedly commissioned in 2024 by officials from Mbarara City Council, including the then City Town Clerk, City Production Officer Dr Manyire and other division representatives.
However, Kajura claims that despite repeated demands for reimbursement since the commissioning, the association has never received its money or a satisfactory response from the authorities.
The association now says it cannot simply surrender control of the slaughter business while its renovation investment remains unsettled.
The butchers argue that the disputed tender award has effectively pushed them aside despite their years of involvement and financial contribution towards maintaining the facility.
They want the city authorities to address both the procurement controversy and the outstanding renovation refund before allowing the new tenderer to take over.
The unfolding standoff now puts Mbarara City Council in a difficult position, with the possibility of disruption at three slaughter facilities if the parties fail to reach an agreement.
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