SWIPCO Monopoly Under Question
Sep 23, 2002
A SYMPOSIUM on procurement has questioned the continued monopoly of the Swiss Procurement Company (SWIPCO), saying procurement services should be open to other firms for fairness and competition.<br>
By Geoffrey Kamali
A SYMPOSIUM on procurement has questioned the continued monopoly of the Swiss Procurement Company (SWIPCO), saying procurement services should be open to other firms for fairness and competition.
“There are many firms that can handle this service and with competition, the Government could get fair prices, hence value for money,†Eng. Robert Rwanga said in a paper he presented at a workshop held at the Grand Imperial Hotel recently.
The workshop was organised by the Ugandan Chapter of the Chartered Institute of Purchase and Supply.
Rwanga, a member of the contracts committee in the works, housing and communications ministry, said with SWIPCO as the sole government agent, there is potential for conflict of interest in handling procurement. “If SWIPCO is the only government agent, who will audit their procurement?†Rwanga asked.
SWIPCO was contracted in 1996 to audit government purchases, verify prices by bidders of government contracts as well as other technical aspects of bidding. Ends
A SYMPOSIUM on procurement has questioned the continued monopoly of the Swiss Procurement Company (SWIPCO), saying procurement services should be open to other firms for fairness and competition.
“There are many firms that can handle this service and with competition, the Government could get fair prices, hence value for money,†Eng. Robert Rwanga said in a paper he presented at a workshop held at the Grand Imperial Hotel recently.
The workshop was organised by the Ugandan Chapter of the Chartered Institute of Purchase and Supply.
Rwanga, a member of the contracts committee in the works, housing and communications ministry, said with SWIPCO as the sole government agent, there is potential for conflict of interest in handling procurement. “If SWIPCO is the only government agent, who will audit their procurement?†Rwanga asked.
SWIPCO was contracted in 1996 to audit government purchases, verify prices by bidders of government contracts as well as other technical aspects of bidding. Ends