Despite the abundant opportunities the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector presents, it poses serious challenges, especially in the way people relate to each other, Trade minister Amelia Kyambadde has said.
Although she did not suggest the way forward, she said something must be done to stop the havoc ICT is inflicting on the way people relate to each other.
Good governance that is generally characterized by participation, transparency and accountability in the citizen's exercise of their political, economic and administrative authority in the management of a country's affairs calls for E-governance underpinning. This is particularly important with the increasing awareness among citizens about their rights and as a result of increased expectations from Governments to perform and deliver effective services.
These new and complex demands have made the use of ICT initiatives imperative in any agenda drawn towards achieving good governance. With e-governance or electronic governance that is basically harnessing the application of information technologies to the processes of Government functioning in order to address citizen's needs and expectations, service delivery is expected to improve.
Read more: UG: Good Governance Calls for E-Governance Underpinning
Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) has launched an integrated online platform which will ease the procurement of public goods and services by the government and its institutions.
“When we improve on the procurement process in government institutionsm, both at the central and local government levels, this enables the government to deliver quality social services in time to its citizens. We expect the new ICT portal will address that in the next coming financial year which will start on 1st July 2015,” Professor Simeon Wanyama, the PPDA Board Chair said last week during the launch in Kampala.
Internet-based procurement system launched to promote efficiency
Only those who have ever made a bid to provide goods or services to the government would understand the pain and frustration one has to endure to win a tender and after supplying the goods to get paid. This is now set to change for the better. On June 18, the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA launched a one-stop online platform with hopes that it will leverage ICT to promote efficiency in public procurement.
The portal will combine the services of three previously used platforms - the public procurement performance measurement system, the tender portal as well as the register of providers. It is expected to benefit government agencies, the private sector, the public as well as procurement regulatory bodies.
Running until 2019, the strategy will see the government adopt an e-government procurement system designed to empower public bodies to better manage public procurement.
Implemented by the Public Procurement & Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) and supported by the World Bank, the system also aims to introduce increased efficiency, confidence in the procurement system and value for money.