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New Benchmarks set at the 7th Procurement Sector Review Workshop |
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On the 28th of February 2007, the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority held the 7th procurement sector workshop. The workshops which are held annually are aimed at strengthening the Authority’s efforts to reform public procurement through the creation of a more efficient and accountable public procurement and disposal system.
This year’s workshop under the theme ‘doing business with Government’ addressed key challenges faced by the business community in doing business with the Government with particular emphasis on the Private Sector which constitutes the biggest percentage of the business sector in Uganda.
The Executive Director expressed PPDA’s willingness to partner with the private sector in building capacity of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs). He informed members about the Authority’s commitment to develop local business capacity through the introduction of preference schemes. So far the Authority has developed a concept paper for the establishment of preference schemes. This will guide in the consultations with stakeholders. Once passed, the scheme will give local businesses a competitive advantage when competing for public procurement contracts.
Stakeholders were also informed about the US$10.4 million of assistance that has been provided by the Millennium Challenge Corporation towards the Uganda Anti-Corruption Threshold Country plan. US$800,000 of this assistance has been earmarked for the improvement of procurement systems in Uganda.
The Authority intends to expand its range of activities, especially in the following areas:
* Expand the audit programme to 27 Procuring and Disposing Entities, including 4 at local government level.
* Build capacity and procurement skills within local Governments by stepping up sensitization programmes in Local Government
* The Authority under the department of legal and Compliance is preparing to issue guidelines and prepare Standard Bidding Documents and User Guides for Local Government procurements. Further more the department intends to join efforts with the Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Public Service and the District Services Commission in setting up fully staffed Procurement and Disposal Units at all Higher Local Governments
Stakeholders Views about the Workshop
We need more Stakeholder involvement
I would like to thank PPDA for organizing the sector review workshops. However I would like to see more involvement of users in the review of PPDA regulations because many are still flouting the regulations. Perhaps PPDA needs to introduce Market Performance Reviews
Prof. Sam Turyamuhika
Federation of Uganda Consultants.
Simply the procurement process
The Private Sector is committed to working with Government in building capacity so as to respond promptly to requirements of the procurement process. However there is need to simplify the procurement process and create a level ground to enable the private sector which is made up of mainly Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SME’s) participate more effectively in doing business with Government.
Dr. Brunno Emwanu
Director Business Unit
Uganda Manufacturers Association
We need procurement units in Local Government!
Delays in establishing fully operational procurement units in Local Governments is posing a huge challenge to the effective implementation of procurement reforms. The Ministry of Public Service has not yet released job description for staff required in the procurement units hence delaying the recruitment process. There is need to provide PPDA and Local Governments with adequate resources if procurement reforms are to be implemented effectively.
Charles Kiberu
Chief Accounting Officer, Bushenyi District
Simplify the legalese.
It is time to fight corruption and embrace Government’s stand of zero tolerance for corruption. This however can be done once all stakeholders are conversant with the legal requirements. So let’s simplify the legalese especially in the documents used in the procurement process so that they are more user friendly.
Joseph Baliddawo
Partner PriceWaterHouse Coopers
Note: A detailed report on the Procurement Sector Review Workshop will be available on the website soon |
