The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) has urged accounting officers to fully implement the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system in the 100 government entities where it has already been rolled out.
The call was made during a training session for accounting officers held at the Ministry of Finance headquarters in Kampala.
The training is intended to equip accounting officers with the knowledge and skills needed to use the new digital procurement platform effectively.
Mariam Baluka, a senior officer for Procurement and Disposal Capacity Building at PPDA, said government has begun training accounting officers from the first 100 entities that have been enrolled onto the e-GP system.
She said the electronic system is designed to make government procurement more efficient, transparent and accountable by shifting procurement processes from paper-based systems to digital platforms.
“The bidding process must be digital. We also appeal to companies, individuals and all government suppliers to embrace the digital system,” Baluku said.
She added that PPDA will also train suppliers so that they can confidently participate in government procurement using the online platform.
“We are going to ensure that suppliers are trained on how to use the system,” she said.
Baluka explained that the legal framework for electronic government procurement is provided for under the amended Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act.
She said the law provides for mandatory digital procurement processes, a central supplier registration platform and streamlined electronic contracting.
She said the implementation of the e-GP system will be carried out in phases, with an additional 100 government entities expected to join the system every financial year until all public entities are covered.
“This is a phased implementation. Every financial year, 100 entities will be brought on board until all government entities are enrolled,” Baluka said.
Acting Accountant General Godfrey Ssemugooma said 100 accounting officers from various government entities had undergone the training and would play a key role in implementing the system.
He said the digital platform will simplify procurement processes and improve service delivery across government.
Ssemugooma said the system is also expected to reduce opportunities for corruption because procurement activities will be conducted electronically, limiting unnecessary physical interaction between government officials and suppliers.
“This digital system will reduce corruption because there will be no direct communication between officials and suppliers. It will also reduce excessive paperwork and unnecessary movements,” he said.
He explained that suppliers will be able to submit bids online and track the progress of their applications without physically visiting government offices or attempting to influence procurement decisions.
Officials believe the electronic procurement system will improve transparency, increase efficiency and strengthen accountability in the management of public procurement across government institutions.
