CoST Uganda calls upon Procurement & Disposing entities to embrace the new Infrastructure Transparency Index processes.
The Infrastructure Transparency Index (ITI) has been developed as a national or sub-national evaluation instrument to measure levels of infrastructure transparency and the quality of the associated processes that improve participation and accountability.
Drake Nyamugabwa
Following the announcement of the first Infrastructure Transparency Index (ITI) in Uganda during the launch of the 4th Assurance Report on 10th February 2021, and the global launch of the index by CoST International in November 2020, CoST Uganda on 17th June 2021 commissioned the first Infrastructure Transparency Index (ITI) in Uganda.
The Index according to the statement issued on 17th June 2021 will run for a period of two months across 30 pilot Procuring and Disclosing Entities, sampling 60 Public infrastructure projects.
CoST Uganda has urged all the pilot procurement and disposing entities to fully participate in the ITI development processes to enable its completion and implementation.
"We now invite PDEs and all stakeholders to embrace the index development process, by actively promoting and participating in the evaluation process, providing responses to the online survey – self assessment interviews to inform completion of the index and implementing recommendations that will result from this process" the statement partly reads.
Gilbert Sendugwa, The Africa Senior Regional Manager, CoST International said that as part of the initial activities, there will be a webinar to further introduce stakeholders and the pilot entities to the ITI slated for 23rd June 2021 at 10:00am EAT.
He said that the objectives of the Index includes to assessthe level of transparency and accountability in the public infrastructure sector over time, to assess the state of infrastructure transparency and the capacity to improve transparency among PDE, To track and encourage progress and facilitate peer learning, while helping to hold PDEs to account in providing quality infrastructure, and to raise awareness of transparency at the national and international level, building on existing data standards such as the Infrastructure Data Standard (IDS) and the Open Contracting for Infrastructure Data Standard (OC4IDS)
CoST Uganda according to the statement has developed the Infrastructure Transparency Index (ITI) as a national or sub-national evaluation instrument to measure levels of infrastructure transparency and the quality of the associated processes that improve participation and accountability.
It will also help stakeholders from government, the private sector and civil society understand the relative strengths and weaknesses of transparency, participation and accountability within the sector.
CoST Uganda is championed by the Minister of Works and a transport Gen. Katumba Wamala.
Among the participating procurement and disposing entities in the first ITI processes includes; Office of the President, National Water and Sewerage Corporation, National Social Security Fund, Makerere University, Parliament of Uganda, Uganda National Roads Authority, Uganda Revenue Authority, Arua District Local Government, Mbale a district Local Government among others.
