Procurement Law Amendments and Procurement Performance of Central Government Entities in Uganda: A case of National Information Technology Authority(NITA) Uganda

Abstract

The study examined the effect of the procurement law amendments on procurement performance of public entities in Uganda, using a case of NITA Uganda. Specifically, the study sought to examine the effect of strengthening; transparency and accountability, preference and reservation scheme and administrative review process on procurement performance at NITA Uganda. The study adopted a cross sectional research design, employing quantitative approach. The study population comprised of 75 staff of NITA-U, from which a sample of 63 was derived, using purposive sampling technique. Quantitative data were collected by means of close ended questionnaires. Analysis of quantitative data was done with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Scientists – version 20, to derive the relevant descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings showed that strengthening transparency and accountability, preference and reservation schemes and administrative review processes had a significant positive effect on procurement performance at NITA-U and they were found to be good predictor variables of procurement performance. The study concluded that there is a strong relationship between strengthening transparency and accountability, preference and reservation and administrative review process on procurement performance. It was thus made the following recommendations: Public officers should seek to involve key stakeholders in procurement planning as a way of improving transparency and accountability; relevant procurement information should be displayed on the noticeboards; PPDA should open up a forum where all accounting officers give accountability; Public entities should comply with the legal requirement on preference and reservation; PPDA should take the lead towards sensitizing local suppliers about preference and reservation privileges; the PPDA Act should be amended to sufficiently cater for local content and lastly; the PPDA should rigorously sensitize the public about the existing administrative review processes.