Hotel bill of South Sudan delegation causes trouble in Uganda
May 1, 2007 (KAMPALA) — A land mark cross-border security meeting between Sudanese government and military officers and their Ugandan counterparts from West Nile ended in nightmare last week, the Ugandan Monitor reported.
The management of White Castle Hotel held back 14 Sudanese delegates who resided there over a Shs2.1 million unpaid accommodation bill.
Yumbe RDC Drani Dradiga convened the historic meeting that deliberated on improving bilateral ties, strengthening cross border security, joint management of human and livestock diseases as well as undertaking customs and immigration reforms to ease movement of people and merchandise between the two countries.
However, as the Sudanese team led by deputy Governor of Central Equatoria State Henry Stephano Danga who is also the state minister for local government prepared to leave, it emerged that the organisers had not cleared their lodging fees.
Daily Monitor has learnt that Dradiga, the convenor agreed to pay only Shs1.9 million for meals, light refreshments and hiring the conference hall.
“Usually in meetings like this, each delegation meets its own costs,” he said.
Twelve members of the Sudanese team checked into the White Castle Chalets – the meeting venue in time for the April 23 meeting. Two others later joined the team, bringing the total accommodation bill to Shs2.1million.
The hotel manager Nelson Kasoba denied reports that they locked up luggage of the visitors until clearance of the arrears.
A highly placed source told this reporter it took the intervention of David Tinyefuza, the coordinator intelligence services and the Office of the President to evacuate the trapped visitors.
In an April 24 letter referenced RDC/ADM/200 but backdated to April 17, RDC Ibrahim Abiriga asked Arua Municipal Council authorities to urgently process Shs2, 750, 000 for emergency needs.
“We have realised a shortfall in meeting accommodation expenses of South Sudan deputy governor at White Castle Hotel and fuel top up for the delegation,” the letter, a copy Daily Monitor has obtained reads in part.
“I am therefore requesting you to lend Shs2, 750,000 to cover these expenses. Your reinforcement will be met by the Office of the President”.
The request, according to sources, caused discontent among officials in the council since it had previously contributed Shs500,000 to bankroll the same occasion.
However, the money was processed and withdrawn from the council’s Stanbic Bank general account number 014009242060201 and immediately transferred to the hoteliers.
The Sudanese delegates were finally escorted to Oraba border after several hours of agony.
(The Monitor)