Expert lauds reviewed PPDA Act
May 04, 2011
THE noose around the necks of individuals, who have been using emergency procurement to swindle public money, has been tightened by the amended Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) Act of 2003.
By Aidah Nanyonjo
THE noose around the necks of individuals, who have been using emergency procurement to swindle public money, has been tightened by the amended Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) Act of 2003.
According to Abraham Nkata, a procurement consultant with Pearl Consult, the new Bill, which is currently before Parliament, puts conditions to follow before an emergency procurement is made.
Nkata said this is a good development that will make hard for corrupt government of officials to steal public funds.
In emergency procurement, services, supplies and equipment are procured to cover emergency situations in a specific setting.
“An emergency procurement may be made when the need cannot be met through normal procurement procedures.
“It must be as a result of a situation that was unforeseen or unanticipated,†Nkata explained while addressing accounting officers from government hospitals at Colline Hotel in Mukono recently.
He noted that some hospital procurement officers categorised any procurement as an emergency to fleece the public.
“The law allows emergency procurement, but not everything used in the hospital is an emergency purchase. If an X-ray machine breaks down, going through the long procurement process is hard.
“In this case, it is justifiable to make an emergency procurement because people will be dying if we are to go through the normal procurement process,†Nkata said
He added that emergency procurement must be approved by respected authorities and demonstrate a need for such procurement supplies and equipment.
In other words, an Emergency procurement is a good, service, or construction essential to meet an emergency situations such as a threat to life, public health, welfare, or safety by reason of major natural disaster, epidemic, riot, fire, or such other reasons.
He noted that most emergency procurements done by hospitals are due to poor planning, overlooked requirements, inaccurate of use history data and incorrect or lack of forecasting.
“The amended PPDA Bill is trying to adjust this. Everything that was foreseen shall not be done as emergency,†he said.
THE noose around the necks of individuals, who have been using emergency procurement to swindle public money, has been tightened by the amended Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) Act of 2003.
According to Abraham Nkata, a procurement consultant with Pearl Consult, the new Bill, which is currently before Parliament, puts conditions to follow before an emergency procurement is made.
Nkata said this is a good development that will make hard for corrupt government of officials to steal public funds.
In emergency procurement, services, supplies and equipment are procured to cover emergency situations in a specific setting.
“An emergency procurement may be made when the need cannot be met through normal procurement procedures.
“It must be as a result of a situation that was unforeseen or unanticipated,†Nkata explained while addressing accounting officers from government hospitals at Colline Hotel in Mukono recently.
He noted that some hospital procurement officers categorised any procurement as an emergency to fleece the public.
“The law allows emergency procurement, but not everything used in the hospital is an emergency purchase. If an X-ray machine breaks down, going through the long procurement process is hard.
“In this case, it is justifiable to make an emergency procurement because people will be dying if we are to go through the normal procurement process,†Nkata said
He added that emergency procurement must be approved by respected authorities and demonstrate a need for such procurement supplies and equipment.
In other words, an Emergency procurement is a good, service, or construction essential to meet an emergency situations such as a threat to life, public health, welfare, or safety by reason of major natural disaster, epidemic, riot, fire, or such other reasons.
He noted that most emergency procurements done by hospitals are due to poor planning, overlooked requirements, inaccurate of use history data and incorrect or lack of forecasting.
“The amended PPDA Bill is trying to adjust this. Everything that was foreseen shall not be done as emergency,†he said.