The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) has secured Shs 18 billion from the World Bank to implement the e-government procurement system.
The system, according to Benson Turamye, the acting executive director of PPDA, will reduce corruption cases in public procurement since there will be no more interface between a bidder and the procuring government entity.
Government officials, suppliers and some contractors have always connived to win lucrative government contracts.
These contracts are in most cases awarded to small firms that lack capacity to execute the multibillion projects and instead choose to sub contract.
"This is mainly blamed on kickbacks that have hindered progress of most development projects. Data from the IGG’s office indicates that government can only account for 40 percent of the budget," Turamye said.
Prof Simeon Wanyama, the PPDA board chairman, said the e-government procurement system will help the local forms especially small and medium enterprises to get government jobs.
"Bids will only be accessible to registered entities online, which is expected to save bidders from the heavy costs involved, especially companies that fly in from overseas to submit bid documents. The ministry of finance planning and economic development will control the system," Wanyama said.
Relatedly, the procurement authorities in the East African region are harmonising laws to govern the procurement systems within the region.
