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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kampala Capital City Authority- KCCA is in the final stages of developing an electronic Procurement system.
This is part of KCCA’s plan to turn Kampala into a Smart City through the use of technology and shall do away with manual handling of bids as suppliers shall interface with KCCA officials online.
The procurement process right from the application, submission of required documents and announcement of winners shall be done online. Physical meetings shall only be done when required especially during final evaluation or interviews.
Betty Amongi, the Minister for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs announced the development at the second annual Suppliers’ Conference organized by KCCA at Imperial Royal Hotel.
Amongi says the electronic system dubbed e-procurement shall reduce the amount of time the manual process takes and also eliminate human errors and bribery.
Amongi says the program is likely to come into effect in three months and that the Authority has started sensitizing suppliers on the system.
The Acting Deputy Director for Procurement and Disposal at KCCA Doreen Akotweere says KCCA has trained their staff and equipped them with the necessary technology to enable them to receive and sort the bids.
The suppliers welcomed the initiative saying it will reduce the unnecessary delays that come with manual procurement and corruption.
Dickens Tusingwire, the manager of Electrical and Civil Engineering Contractors that supplies electronics like solar lights to KCCA says the electronic Procurement shall address the delays and corruption that is common in the manual bidding process. He adds that it takes days for them to have their bids received due to the long queue at KCCA offices.
He however asked KCCA to sensitize suppliers and potential suppliers to enable everyone interested in bidding to use the online platform.
Charles Ssekamwenge, another supplier asked KCCA to make payment part of the system such that when KCCA pays suppliers, it is reflected on the system.
However, some suppliers say KCCA needs to improve its procurement process by having motivated staff ready to attend to service providers. They also want KCCA to address the issue of bias in the bidding process that has seen companies lacking capacity issued contracts while the competent ones miss out.
This is not the first initiative implemented under the Smart City Program. Previously, KCCA has adopted the online license system through which traders can apply and get trade licensing online without necessarily visiting KCCA offices.
The Director of Revenue Collection Samuel Sserukuuma says the online licensing system has improved compliance and reduced the load of work involved in applying for a trade license.
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