By Mulengera Reporters
The Auditor General’s 2023/2024 report reveals widespread flaws in Uganda’s procurement processes, with billions wasted due to non-compliance with regulations.
Out of 78 assessed entities, 63 procurements worth UGX 59.02 billion were executed outside approved plans, while 19 procurements valued at UGX 2.4 billion were irregularly split to evade approval thresholds.
Additionally, 79 procurements worth UGX 25.45 billion were undertaken without market price assessments, inflating costs. In 13 entities, contracts worth UGX 47.13 billion were signed without performance securities, exposing the government to financial risks.
The report also highlights inefficiencies in the e-Government Procurement system, citing downtimes, incomplete processes, and inadequate user training. These challenges undermine the system’s potential to improve transparency and efficiency in procurement.
The Auditor General recommended stricter enforcement of procurement guidelines and better training for users of the system. Addressing these gaps is crucial to curbing wastage and ensuring value for money in public spending. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
