PPDA suspends 58 providers

By Billy Rwothungeyo

THE regulator of public procurement in Uganda has published a list of 58 suspended providers of services, goods and works. 

This move by the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) bars the implicated firms and their directors from participating in any public procurement of disposal proceedings for the period of the suspension in accordance with PPDA regulation 351 (3) (a).

Suspension periods range from one year to five years.

Upon the expiry of the duration of the suspension, the firms are at liberty to apply to the procurement regulator and ask to be struck off the blacklisted providers’ list. 

Some firms like M/s Amman Industrial Tools & Equipment Ltd and their directors have been suspended indefinitely for causing USD1.7m financial loss to the Government of Uganda, according to PPDA. 

PPDA says the firms and their directors or representatives are given a fair hearing and a chance to defend selves before the suspensions were melted out.

The firms were suspended over different ethical issues such as submitting forged bid securities, and failure to adhere to contractual obligations like failure to complete works and abandonment of sites among others.

The procuring and disposing entities of Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), Ministry of Education and Sports and other ministries and local government authorities among others recommended the PPDA to suspend the firms.