By Joachim Twino
On Thursday, Florence Nakyeyune who Manages the multi-billion GoU electronic procurement (eGP) project convened a meeting to sensitize NGOs and CSOs about the essentiality of the new intervention aimed at eliminating corruption, enhance service delivery and re-invigorate private sector confidence in government bidding and procurement processes. For starters procurement is of extreme importance because 60% of the money in the GoU budget is spent on service delivery via procurement-related transactions.
There was good turn up and the CSOs activists freely gave their views and experiences generally spilling beans as to why they are generally very apprehensive towards government procurement processes. Nakyeyune and Ag PPDA ED Moses Ojambo tickled them in their earlier presentations by revealing to them that a survey had been conducted revealing why private sector firms generally don’t respond to adverts calling for bids to supply stuff to the more than 370 government PDEs (Procurement & Disposal Entities).
Nakyeyune said because of this apathy, for every major procurement deal government advertises a maximum of three bidders respond with two or one soldiering on to the very last stage of the bidding process. This is what Nakyeyune disclosed as to why bidders keep away: 54 resent delayed payment of service providers by GoU; 53% perceive the process as too corrupt; 46% resent biding costs being too high; 41% fail to understand specs in bidding documents; 36% never get to know of such opportunities and 35% lack finances to participate.
She called for answers and ideas on how to ensure the new government electronic procurement system (whose pilot begins next July before 100% roll out in 2021) works well to achieve intended objective.
Many candidly spoke from the audience including Ntinda-based Venus Wood Center proprietor Julian Nyabuhara whose honest submission caused quite a stir at training workshop.
She said there was general apathy because of the manner in which PDU bosses in the MDAs design the bidding documents discriminating and locking out some bidders. She said the language in which these bid notices are designed is too complex creating confusion to frighten some would-be bidders. She told Nakyeyune there is a general belief there are companies that are always aided to win every contract that government advertises.
She also complained of some highly connected competitors who use their spouses, children, relatives and friends as proxies to incorporate as many companies as possible to keep wining government contracts in the different ministries and sectors of government. She singled out a category of PDU officers designated as Procurement Officers saying “those demigods are the worst when it comes to mistreating some bidders clearly with an aim to frustrate them to give up.”
She told Nakyeyune she was fascinated by the reforms she highlighted as areas that will lead to increased integrity into the bidding and procurement processes but complex systems should be demystified first. She said even before the new electronic system was conceived, bidders like herself have been incapable of reading and understanding bidding documents on their own. “There are these intelligent guys from the street. They are the ones I call to read and interpret the newspaper advert for me to determine if it’s a job I can bid for or not. Those boys are very expensive. I have to pay them heavily to read the advert and prepare all the bid document for me. I’m just guided where to sign which is mostly on the first and last page of the bid document,” said Nyabuhara sounding very innocent in her submission.
As she struggled to hold back tears, an emotionally charged Nyabuhara then turned and told Nakyeyune her fears about the new system. “If this normal old system of manual procurement has been a hassle for us, then what do you expect with the new system? It’s going to scare away many of us because the street boys are going to be exploiting us even more because that is a more complicated area than the old system,” Nyabuhara said attracting prolonged laughter.
BYANYIMA SPEAKS
Speaking immediately after her, ex-Bukanga County MP Eng Nathan Byanyima called on Nyabuhara not to despair but prepare to learn new things. He gave himself as an example saying there are things he feared were too hard for his age. He said using a computer was one thing he always had phobia for and preferred it’s something his children can handle on his behalf. He said but one time he travelled to America and there was no one to come to his rescue.
He said the circumstances in the US compelled him and now he comfortably does everything by himself and its fun. He said he had the same dislike for going for physical exercises and working out in the morning. But these are things he now willingly does every day because of the new challenges he faced while in the US.
But Byanyima also spoke about corruption expressing fears that Nakyeyune’s well-intentioned passion for the eGP project would face plenty of resistance from powerful officials who have been profiting from the inefficiencies associated with the old paper procurement system that has always been easier to manipulate.
As if to demonstrate how much he misses Parliament, Byanyima recalled his personal efforts in the 6th Parliament (1996-2001) during which he nearly lost his own life because of the strong stand he took against corruption. “My sister Florence Nakyeyune this isn’t to discourage you but to just let you know the war against corruption will never be easy in this country. In the 6th parliament we came determined and indeed tried thinking we would change the way government works and wipe out corruption. We did our best but not much changed,” Byanyima said.
“But in your case Florence don’t fear because you are in a fight which finally has full backing of the topmost man [M7]. He is fully behind you and nothing is going to be impossible but as you work hard just know there are hyenas in this country who must not sleep hungry or else they finish you off.” Byanyima predicted that even when the system finally becomes 100% operational and rolled out across the entire government spectrum, corruption will only be significantly diminished but not totally wiped out “because there are some hyenas who must not sleep hungry and they will always eat.” (For comments, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755 or email us at mulengera2040@gmail.com).
