Stakeholders vow to make Public Procurement faster Publish

Delegates agreed that procurement should focus on results not processes

 By Billy Rwothungeyo

The need to focus more on value for money rather than only complying with procedures was one of the pertinent issues raised at the public procurement symposium last week.

Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi set the tone in his key-note address.

“We must inculcate a culture that puts emphasis on results and outputs rather than inputs and processes” he said.

The two-day event, which was held at the Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo, attracted several high profile procurement practitioners, experts and analysts.

Several issues on how to improve and propel public procurement were discussed.

Many participants agreed that new reforms should be formulated to speed up procurement processes.

The long bidding procedures have become a pain for many bidders, who have to contend with many months of waiting for results.

Cornelia Sabiiti, the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDA) executive director, proposed that efficiency can be improved by shortening time frames of bidding periods and removal of advertising period.

Dunstan Balaba, the Adjumani Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) said procurement in districts is hampered by late approvals of procurement staff.

“The approval of members of the districts contract committees by the Permanent Secretary/ Secretary to the Treasury takes unnecessarily long,” complained Balaba.

Keith Muhakanizi, the deputy secretary to the Treasury acknowledged the challenge of the delays but was quick to hint at an alternative.

“If an entity does not have a contracts committee in place, you can temporarily use another entity’s committee. When KCCA did not have an approved contracts committee, it used Uganda Revenue Authority’s. It is provided for by the law” he said.

The stakeholders unanimously agreed that corruption is still a major problem facing public procurement.

Justice Irene Mulyagonja, the Inspector General of Government said the Government could save up to sh30b annually by eliminating losses from corruption in public procurement.

“The law should be amended to penalize inappropriate interaction between procuring entities and bidders” advised Mulyagonja.

http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/635683-stakeholders-vow-to-make-public-procurement-faster.html 

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