BUSINESS | PPDA | PROCUREMENT 

KAMPALA - At least 6,308 local companies have registered online with the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) to supply goods and services. 

It is now a requirement that companies that seek to supply government have to register online for the Electronic Government Procurement (EGP) with the PPDA. 

Benson Turamye, the executive director at the PPDA said that companies that register will benefit as public procurement offers the largest business opportunities in Uganda.   

Turamye said the business case remains compelling in terms of savings, benefits like transactional efficiency savings, and standardisation of the procurement practices. 

Turamye said about 43 foreign companies have so far been registered for the e-procurement. 

He explained that companies that have registered get message alerts on any procurement opportunities available, adding that the companies get training and support on how to undertake procurement and can plan for yearly state procurement plans and activities.   

There are over 26 ministries, agencies and departments of government, and two local governments that have signed up for the electronic government procurement system as more come on board, Turamye said. 

Turamye said this at the Media Centre during the launch of the PPDA Business Exposition 2022. 

He said that the expo is aimed at contributing to economic growth and connecting businesses to effective procurement systems.   

The expo will take place at Kololo ceremonial grounds in Kampala from between 8th to 10th July 2022. 

Public procurement refers to the purchase by governments and state-owned enterprises of goods, services and works. 

“PPDA is committed to supporting local content, to promote import substitution. The law requires that goods made locally should be bought by government and only imported if they are not available,” Turamye emphasised. 

He said uniforms for the Police, Prisons, UPDF, and medical workers are now being bought locally. 

He cited other items such as electrical materials, over 46 medicines and sundries that have to be purchased locally. 

“When a foreign company gets a tender, they must subcontract 30% of the contract to local companies. In terms of numbers, local companies are getting the lion’s share, 95% of public procurement yearly. 

But in terms of value foreign companies get few high-value contracts. They are large in value making up 65%, while the locals get 35% of the total value of public procurement annually,” Turamye said. 

“Electronic Government procurement has been introduced, you must bid through Internet, and you have to register. In terms of integration, it is integrated with other systems of the URA, URSB, NITA- U, KCCA, Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing System, the integration should be making life easy,” Turamye added.   

Turamye said that the expo will provide companies with a unique platform to network with various stakeholders while assisting providers with tapping into opportunities that public procurement offers to accelerate recovery from the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Turamye said the expo’s goal is to enhance stakeholders’ understanding of the public procurement and disposal processes and systems. 

According to PDDA, the government of Uganda annually spends up to 60% of its budget on public procurement of a vast range of goods, services and works. 

“This makes the expo the ultimate place for any provider looking for new business opportunities. It will also serve as an opportunity for government agencies to showcase their achievements and accountability to the citizens,” Turamye noted. 

The expo will culminate in an awards gala on July 10, where awards will be given out to recognize different categories of stakeholders who have excelled in executing public procurement and disposal functions for national development, both in the public and private sectors. 

“The expo will also offer an opportunity to providers and other stakeholders a chance to engage with key personnel and organisations that contribute to public procurement. Most of the public procurement officers will be at the venue to network and engage with suppliers,” Turamye stated. 

During the expo, PPDA will train stakeholders on electronic government procurement (e-GP), as well as to conduct free skills development sessions under different categories. 

The expo will be a one-stop business centre where members of the public will access services from different government agencies. 

“The suppliers/providers who have not registered for e-GP will be registered and trained for free, and a PPDA certificate will be accessed in one day during the expo,” Turamye said. 

He asked registered service providers and accounting officers of government ministries, departments, agencies, and local governments to participate in the expo.

Moses Agaba Aibah the chief executive officer at Fathil International Projects said that the event will have visitors, exhibitors and sponsors.   

“The pandemic battered many companies, we want to link companies to opportunities that are available,” Aibah said. 

The company is collaborating with PPDA in organizing the expo. 

Public Procurement like other Public Finance management functions has undergone several reforms resulting in the need for an electronic Government Procurement System.