The office aims to bring services closer to the people, focusing on local governments and public procurement processes.
The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) has opened its new regional office in Mbarara, constructed at a cost of Shs3.5 billion in just one year.
The office aims to bring services closer to the people, focusing on local governments and public procurement processes.
According to PPDA, the land for the office was handed over by Mbarara District on 26th May 2022, and construction commenced on 23rd June 2023.
PPDA Executive Director, Benson Turamye, highlighted the swift progress: “The district handed over this plot on Kamukuzi Hill to PPDA, and we began construction.”
The three-story building will serve 47 districts across western Uganda, facilitating smoother service delivery to local governments and government agencies.
Minister Henry Musasizi launches the new PDDA office in Mbarara |
At the office’s opening, Henry Musasizi, the State Minister for Finance (General Duties), praised the PPDA for their efficiency and urged them to ensure that youth, women, and persons with disabilities benefit from local and central government procurement contracts.
“Let our young people access these contracts and involve women and persons with disabilities in activities like building latrines and distributing desks in schools,” Musasizi emphasized.
Musasizi also announced plans for additional PPDA offices in Mbale and Gulu and commended PPDA for managing to complete the Mbarara project for Shs 3.45 billion, saving about Shs 200 million from the originally budgeted Shs 3.6 billion.
On the subject of corruption, Minister Musasizi urged PPDA to tackle corrupt practices within the procurement process and to support the Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (BUBU) initiative by minimizing reliance on imported products. He further suggested that the local contracts scheme for youth, women, and persons with disabilities be gradually expanded.
“We can graduate contracts from 5 to 10 billion until we reach 40 billion,” he added.
While the PPDA now possesses the land and building in Mbarara, the land title is still registered under Mbarara District, despite the office being located within Mbarara City.
