Procuring entities across Uganda have been urged to place local content at the center of the country’s growth strategy to ensure that public expenditure translates directly into broader domestic wealth creation and sustainable enterprise development.
The call was made by Benson Turamye, Executive Director of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), during a Suppliers’ Forum organized by the Uganda Development Bank (UDB) at Four Points by Sheraton in Kampala. Speaking on the role of procurement in national development, Turamye emphasized that Uganda’s ambitious plan to achieve tenfold economic growth hinges not only on the overall scale of public investments, but on whether those investments generate tangible opportunities for local businesses, workers, and communities.
Addressing participants under the event’s theme, “Enhancing Supplier Engagement in Public Procurement for Sustainable Development,” Turamye cautioned against viewing procurement as merely an administrative requirement buried in tender notices and compliance paperwork. Instead, he framed it as a critical policy lever for national progress.
Turamye noted that sustainable development is the destination, supplier engagement is the bridge, and procurement is the vehicle that gets you there. He added that a good procurement process yields a good supplier, and a good supplier ultimately delivers sustainable development for the benefit of all citizens.
To illustrate the consequences of falling short, Turamye highlighted poorly executed infrastructure projects that leave communities worse off. He cited instances where roads were constructed without regard for nearby residents, drainage systems caused flooding in private gardens, or borrow pits were left open to collect stagnant water and breed mosquitoes long after construction crews had departed.
The forum was designed to create a collaborative platform for UDB to improve bidder responsiveness, promote inclusivity, and integrate higher sustainability standards into its procurement processes.
Dr. Patricia Ojangole, Managing Director of Uganda Development Bank, underscored the strategic nature of the gathering, noting that procurement functions as a primary catalyst for resilient supply chains and local economic transformation.
Dr. Ojangole stated that UDB regards its suppliers as key strategic partners rather than simple contractors or third-party vendors. She explained that every system implemented, facility maintained, and service delivered directly enhances the bank’s ability to finance enterprise growth across Uganda’s productive sectors and improve livelihoods across the nation. She added that realizing national transformation ambitions requires a supplier community that is competitive, highly capable, and aligned with rigorous integrity standards.
The event featured a panel discussion with procurement leaders from major institutions, including Doreen Tiberonda, Deputy Director Procurement and Disposal at KCCA; Gloria Tuhaise Wakooba, Director of Procurement and Disposal at Bank of Uganda; John Saturday, Manager Procurement and Disposal Unit at the Electricity Regulatory Authority; and PPDA managers Ronald Tumuhairwe and Catherine Natukunda.
According to data from the PPDA, at least 65% of Uganda’s national budget is executed through public procurement, accounting for roughly 15% to 20% of the country’s GDP. This aligns closely with World Bank estimates showing that African governments allocate an average of 17% of GDP to public goods, works, and service contracts.
The forum reflects broader continent-wide shifts in procurement practices, including open contracting principles to foster transparency, formal professionalization through accredited training, deliberate local content mandates, and green supply chain initiatives.
