KAMPALA – The Ag. Executive Director of Public Procurement & Public Assets Authority (PPDA) Uthman Segawa has vowed to thoroughly investigate and slap powerful disciplinary punishing sanctions to Makerere University leadership for procuring graduation gowns from China instead of Uganda.
Mr. Segawa at a press conference held at Uganda Media Centre in Kampala said all procurement officers and the Vice-Chancellor Barnabas Nawangwe will be punished if they are found guilty of breaching operational and procurement guidelines.
“We are undertaking a contract audit on the procurement of gowns by Makerere University following the press reports. Providers are urged to report any breach of the guidelines to the authority,” PPDA boss said.
Segawa said once they come up with an investigation or audit, the University Secretary Yusuf Kiranda and the University Bursar Evarist Bainomugisha will be forward University Council for powerful furnishing sanctions.
The PPDA, who said there are many measures to punish breaches under the law, noted the law provides for offenses which range from failure to provide documentation, failure to answer the summons, signing contracts above the market price, signing contracts without going through the procurement structure.
“There are criminal offences and penalties specified for under the PPDA law,” Segawa said reveling that the authority in pursuit of the Government Policy of “Buy Uganda Build Uganda” issued Guidelines on Reservation schemes to promote local content in public procurement.
Mr. Segawa is a strong proponent of Buy Uganda Build Uganda.
“The revised Guideline dated 15th February 2018 provided for exclusive reservation of contracts by the threshold for both national and resident providers,” he said.
He noted that they have been monitoring the implementation of the guideline.
According to Segawa, there has been an increase in the value of contracts for works awarded to local providers, an increase in the value of contracts for the supply of medicines and medical supplies, increase in the value of contracts for uniforms awarded to manufacturers.
“However, notwithstanding the improvement, some entities have not fully implemented the reservations. We urge them to adhere to the Guideline as we build the capacity of our local providers,” he explained.
Segawa further revealed that the government is to start the pilot for the E-Government Procurement on March 31, 2020, for the 10 entities.
Roll out of central government entities to be undertaken on September 30, 2020, and local governments on July 1, 2021.
