Institutional factors affecting contract management in Uganda: A case of Uganda National Roads Authority

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of institutional factors on contract management in Uganda National Roads Authority. Specifically, the study sought to: find out how Institutional Financing affects Contract Management in Uganda National Roads Authority; establish how the Institutional Structure affects Contract Management in Uganda National Roads Authority and; examine the extent to which Institutional Staff Competence affects Contract Management in Uganda National Roads Authority. The study used a cross-sectional survey research design, adopting both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The researcher used a sample of 140 respondents. Simple random sampling and Purposive sampling were used. Methods of data collection were questionnaires and interviews. Pearson‘s correlation co-efficient was used to determine whether there is linear relationship between institutional factors and Contract Management. Qualitative data was analyzed by quotation and paraphrasing. Findings of the study revealed that Institutional Financing, Institutional Structure and Institutional Staff Competence affect Contract Management in Uganda National Roads Authority. The researcher therefore concluded that Institutional Financing, Institutional Structure and Institutional Staff Competence had a positive relationship with Contract Management in Uganda National Roads Authority. The study recommends that; UNRA management should undertake risk assessment for high risk contracts; develop contract quality assurance plans for high risk contracts; strengthen or improve processes for payment and enforce good governance principles in contract management. In addition, UNRA should undertake procurement skills assessment and train staff in contract management through refresher courses, workshops, seminars and conferences where staff meet and share experiences, and finally, UNRA should ensure that contract management staffing is periodically reviewed in order to guarantee that there is always sufficient and adequate competency.