Open discussion forums on procurement start
Sep 26, 2014
The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) has started holding open discussion forums, locally called barazas, to engage Ugandans on procurement issues in their localities.
By Billy Rwothungeyo
The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) has started holding open discussion forums, locally called barazas, to engage Ugandans on procurement issues in their localities.
Last week, the public procurement regulator hosted the first ever procurement baraza in Tororo to discuss service delivery in the Eastern district.
Participants discussed a long range of issues such as the district procurement work plan and understanding how and when the planned government activities were implemented.
The residents were also told that the district and the municipal council are mandated by the law to display their procurement plans in open spaces to foster transparency, accountability and the monitoring of projects.
This is one of the requirements spelt out in the amended PPDA Act and Regulations came in force in March.
“Through the procurement barazas, we hope the stakeholders will get the relevant knowledge and be empowered to monitor Government projects,” said Milton Tumutegyereize, the Director for Training & Capacity Building at PPDA.
“Sometimes, people don’t even know what is on the work plan of the district and so will not know when there is no service delivery.”
Sarah Opendi, the minister of State for Primary Health Care and one of the area MPs urged contractors to finish works on time.
“Once you delay procurement, you are delaying service delivery to the people. Can we conclude these in time so that people can get what is due to them,” he said.
Audit queries
Stakeholders were furnished with audit findings from procurement activities undertaken by both Tororo district and municipal council.
At the district level, for example, the supply and installation of medium scale rice mill at Poyameri Grain Store in Magola sub-county at a cost of sh49m was captured in the audit.
The machine was delivered but it is not functional. The building housing the machine lacks electricity to power the machine
In Tororo Municipal Council, the construction of walls of the first and second floor slabs on Bison Flat staff quarters sh212m is still going on, despite the expiry of the contract, the audit notes.
Members were also informed that the fitting of a water tank, construction of septic tank, plumbing works and installation of gates at abattoir at the cost of sh23m, and the construction of a VIP latrine at St. Kizito Primary School at a cost of 13m also had issues.
The next procurement baraza is slated for later this month in Gulu.