Government had no fuel for President Kikwete visit

Reports reaching us say that the government faced an embarrassing situation with the visit to Uganda by Tanzania's leader, Pres ident Jakaya Kitwete on Wednesday, March 22.

Sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kampala say that the ministry's executive limousines did not have fuel.

The government is said to have asked Ugandans with Mercedes Benzes to lendt hem to the government for the occasion.

This is Kikwete's first visit to Uganda as head of state.

Meanwhile, reports also reaching us say that work on the renovation of State House at Entebbe has come to a standstill.

The standstill is because the Chinese company doing the renovation pulled out after a dispute with State House.

Uganda is supposed to host the Commonwealth Heads of State meeting next year and there is still a shortage of accommodation for the 52 heads of state expected in Uganda.

The pullout by the Chinese company has been kept a secret for fear that it will raise concern at the Commonwealth secretariat in London.

Maybe that could make the Secretariat think of changing the summit to another venue.

The government has been quietly approaching wealthy Ugandan Indians like Sudhir Ruparelia and others to convince them to fund the completion of the renovation.

This is not the first time reports are circulating in Kampala that the government does not have money.

During the recent presidential election campaign, there were complaints by NRM officials that there was no money at the headquarters of the party at plot 10, Kyadondo Road.