Compliance in procurement and internal service delivery. A case study, Uganda Police Force

Abstract

The relationship between compliance in procurement and internal service delivery in Uganda Police Force was studied based on three objectives which included examining the effect of legal compliance on internal service delivery; determining the effect of procurement process compliance on internal service delivery and establishing the effect of rules and regulatory compliance at Uganda Police Headquarters, Kampala. Literature about compliance in procurement and internal service delivery was reviewed. A cross-sectional research design was used. The study population was 80 from which a sample of 66 respondents was selected. Data was collected using of questionnaire and interview guide. The response rate of 80.3% was obtained from which the study found out that legal compliance (.633**, p < 0.05, .000), procurement process compliance (.665**,p < 0.05, .000) rules and regulatory compliance (.606**, p < 0.05) had a significant positive relationship with internal service delivery. The UPF deals with classified procurement where compliance is no exceptional however, procurement disposal unit staff adhere to the Public Procurement Disposal of Assets Act, observed the anti-corruption Act and Public Financial Management Act 2015. Hiring skilled, competent and qualified procurement staff would improve internal service delivery, however; delayed payments frustrate vendors’ and non-procurement compliance compromises internal service delivery. The recommendations laid for the study include the need for procurement disposal unit independence, conducting tailored procurement trainings, use benchmarking and pay vendors/suppliers on time. Further recommendations include the need to establish a quality assurance point with specialists to verify all supplies.