Despite the Uganda government’s implementation of numerous measures to streamline procurement processes, flaws in procurement have been observed across various entities.
The 2021 Auditor General’s Annual Report to Parliament revealed that a staggering 58% of Procurement Disposal Entities (PDEs) in South Western Uganda failed to meet their targets in the previous financial year, 2019/2020. This report sheds light on the repercussions of unmet procurement targets for the citizenry and explores potential solutions.
Let’s first examine Mbarara City, one of the fastest-growing cities among the 15 cities approved by the cabinet in 2019. Situated approximately 270 km southwest of Uganda’s capital, Kampala, this city is home to over 200,000 people and is regarded as the political and economic hub of southwestern Uganda. However, it has been embroiled in procurement scandals, as reported by the media.
A case in point, recently, parliamentarians on the physical infrastructure committee, while on a fact-finding mission, expressed dissatisfaction over what they termed as the sluggish construction of Mbarara city roads contracted by Multiplex Engineering Company Limited.
Reports suggest that the construction of three roads, measuring 2.3 kilometers in total, was contracted at the tune of 23 billion to last for one year from the time of commencement. The affected roads were Major Victor Bwana (0.95 km), Galt Road (0.65 km), and Stanley Road (0.78 km).
The committee cited wanting workmanship coupled with the low quality of tarmac used during road construction, which led to the development of what was described as premature cracks. It was evident that works have moved at a slow pace, leaving behind many unanswered questions.
Nonetheless, these scenarios are not only limited to Mbarara but also other areas. But what explains the stagnation of such projects? Similar issues were captured in my study titled “Procurement Planning, Contractor Capacity, and Procurement Performance of Public Procuring and Disposing Entities (PDEs)”.
The study was carried out between November 2022 to November 2023 and approved by Mbarara University Research Ethical Committee. I randomly interviewed 180 respondents from various public entities in South Western Uganda to establish the combined relationship between procurement planning, contractor capacity, and procurement performance of public PDEs. Findings reveal a sharp linkage between the combined procurement planning, contractor capacity, and procurement performance.
The above-mentioned combined variables explain 50.0% of variation in procurement performance of Public PDEs in South Western Uganda. There should be an improvement in both procurement planning and contractor capacity to produce desired results.
A case in point, public entities are urged to strike a balance between proper planning and contracting competent service providers. Appropriate planning comes with hiring a competent contractor or service provider who is able to execute and complete the project at an agreed time. T
his will eliminate recurring circumstances where entities award multiple contracts to a contractor with a limited resource envelope. If due diligence is done at the planning phase, such misdemeanors are averted, eventually eliminating unnecessary wastage of time hence proper service delivery to the citizens.
By examining case studies and data from Southwestern Uganda, I believe that this extract provides a roadmap for optimizing procurement processes to achieve superior project outcomes. Conclusively, this article will serve as a wakeup call to stakeholders, policymakers, and industry professionals to reevaluate their approach to procurement in Southwestern Uganda. By recognizing the complex connections between planning, contractor capacity, and performance, a transformative vision that has the potential to reshape the region’s and national public project landscape is achievable.
Full details are contained in the Research Dissertation I undertook at my Masters Program and can easily be accessed at Mbarara University of Science and Technology Library or emailed to you by contacting twebazechris2@gmail.com.
Attribution:
This article was edited by Halson Kagure, a Public Relations Communications Specialist at Mbarara Referral Hospital, a Government Hospital, and a teaching affiliate of Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
