Public Procurement Symposium and Exhibition 2012

REMARKS BY MR. I. K. KABANDA,

PPDA BOARD CHAIRMAN

THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT SYMPOSIUM AND

EXHIBITION19TH – 20TH SEPTEMBER, 2012,

SPEKE RESORT MUNYONYO

It is with great honour and pleasure that PPDA is opening the Public Procurement Symposium and Exhibition 2012. The Theme of the Symposium is “Public Procurement in Uganda; Achievements, Challenges and the Future”. As you are aware, PPDA started operations in 2003. 

It is therefore necessary to reflect on our past performance during the formative years and this can best be achieved with the cooperation, support and active involvement of the key stakeholders like yourselves, in a forum such as this. 

The timing is also opportune for the reason that the PPDA has a new Strategic Plan which embodies the Vision of aspiring to be a world-class procurement and disposal of assets authority. The objectives of the Symposium are:

a) To brief stakeholders on the performance of the public procurement and disposal system with a view to enhancing deeper understanding of the challenges and to propose strategies to address them.

b) To get feedback from stakeholders from selected sectors on their experiences in implementing the public procurement and disposal of public assets legal and institutional framework; and

c) More importantly, to seek the views of stakeholders on the future of the procurement reform agenda.

d) Since the procurement reforms began way back in the 1990s, the volume, value and complexity of public procurement, has grown significantly. The issue of capacity to manage high value and complex procurements is now emerging as a key issue of concern. 

It is imperative that there is focus on the development of appropriate capacity for all the public officers under the different procurement structures. One of the significant challenges of the Authority is the inadequate staffing and funding in the face of demands of the procuring and disposing entities which keeps growing thus increasing the work load for the staff. 

However, the expectations of Government and stakeholders are such that the Authority is expected to fully discharge its mandate right from Central to Local Government levels. We appeal to Government to ensure that the Regulator is provided sufficient resources to undertake its mandate as envisaged under the procurement reforms. 

The Authority remains resolutely committed to achievement of its mandate and recognise that each of the participants at the symposium has an important role to play in achieving that vision. 

PPDA urges participants to fully participate in the deliberations and assures all members that feedback, whether positive or negative shall be fully taken into account by PPDA in the quest to provide excellent service to our stakeholders and shareholders in the future. Read more