By Lawrence Kooko
The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority has partnered with the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group to strengthen civil society monitoring of government contracts and improve accountability in public projects.
The partnership was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding following a three-day PPDA training for CSBAG members on contract monitoring.
PPDA Executive Director Canon Benson Turamye said the arrangement is intended to give civil society a stronger role in following government contracts beyond the procurement stage.
He said procurement does not end with the award of a contract, but runs through implementation, completion and commissioning.
Turamye said effective monitoring requires civil society organisations to understand contract terms and specifications so they can establish whether projects are being delivered as agreed.
He added that access to government contract documents has improved, with accounting officers increasingly recognising them as public information that can be used by civil society monitors.
PPDA is currently working with 31 civil society organisations and expects the partnership with CSBAG to widen oversight of public projects.
CSBAG Executive Director Julius Mukunda said the organisation’s work in public finance management requires it to follow public resources from parliamentary appropriation to implementation and service delivery.
Mukunda said CSBAG previously lacked enough capacity to effectively monitor procurement and government contracts, but the PPDA training has given members a clearer understanding of what to look for when assessing projects.
He said the MoU also gives CSBAG access to PPDA’s Contract Monitoring System, allowing monitors to submit information gathered from the field.
Through the system, concerns such as delays and implementation problems can be reported directly to PPDA for follow-up and feedback.
Mukunda said digitalising the process will reduce delays in reporting concerns and make it easier to track how many issues have been raised and resolved.
He, however, warned CSBAG members against abusing the monitoring arrangement.
Mukunda said members are expected to remain professional and must not use access to the system for personal disputes or other conduct that could undermine the credibility of civil society monitoring.
Those found misusing the system, he said, will face sanctions, including removal from the monitoring arrangement.
