Tribunal cancels UWA sh1.4b uniforms bid, orders fresh evaluation

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The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Appeal Tribunal has set aside a sh1.4 billion procurement by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) for the supply of digital camouflage field uniforms, citing flaws in the evaluation process.

According to documents presented before the tribunal, UWA initiated the procurement under reference using the open domestic bidding method on November 27, 2025.

Bidding documents were issued to ten prospective bidders between November 28 and December 11, 2025, followed by a pre-bid meeting held at UWA offices on December 9, 2025.

On December 17, 2025, UWA received bids from ten firms, including Kawaida Investments Ltd, Winner Global Enterprises Ltd, Homik Petroleum & Facilities Engineering Ltd, Kwera Services Ltd, Southern Range Nyanza Limited, Bellevue Logistics Ltd, Polynesia Enterprises Ltd, Inter Hemisphere Logistics Ltd, Lavie Boutique Ltd, and Inter Edge Enterprises Ltd.

Following the evaluation process, UWA issued the best evaluated bidder notice dated February 9, 2026, naming Homik Petroleum & Facilities Engineering Ltd as the successful bidder at a contract sum of sh1.4 billion, inclusive of taxes.

Southern Range Nyanza Limited, one of the bidders, was unsuccessful at the financial evaluation stage due to what was described as a higher bid price.

However, dissatisfied with the outcome, the company petitioned the tribunal, challenging the procurement process.

On March 30, 2026, the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Tribunal, chaired by Francis Gimara and comprising Nelson Nerima, Geoffrey Nuwagira Kakira, Paul Kalumba, Charity Kyarisiima Keto Kayemba and Cyrus Titus Aomu, nullified the best evaluated bidder notice and ordered UWA to re-evaluate the bids in accordance with the law, the bidding documents and the tribunal’s findings within ten working days.

The respondent (UWA) is ordered to re-evaluate the bids in a manner not inconsistent with this decision, the bidding document, and the law. The re-evaluation shall be conducted within ten working days from the date of this decision,” the tribunal ruled.

The tribunal also directed UWA to refund the administrative review fees paid by Southern Range Nyanza Limited.

The decision halts the procurement process and requires the wildlife authority to conduct a fresh and lawful evaluation of all submitted bids.