Top Uganda Transparent Procuring Entities awarded as 2nd Infrastructure Transparency Index Report is launched.
Drake Nyamugabwa
Over 58 projects from 30 procurement and disposal entities that participated in the 2nd Infrastructure Transparency Index (ITI) and evaluated, the best Uganda's transparent entities in the 2024 report have been recognized
According to the 2024 2nd Infrastructure Transparency Index (ITI) Report of the selected entities in the evaluation process, there has been an increase in the performance score representing progress in the promotion of infrastructure transparency in all the dimensions used during the process.
“Uganda’s national ITI score increased from 20.8% in 2021 to 32.26% in the 2nd index indicating progress in promoting infrastructure transparency. Improvements were observed across all dimensions.” Partly reads the report.
The STI was developed by CoST Uganda an infrastructure transparency initiative with technical support from the CoST International Secretariat and financial backing from the United Kingdom’s Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) among other partners.
During the launch of the 2024 STI report, held on 25th July 2024 at Golf Hotel in Kampala, The Minister of Works and Transport Gen. Katumba Wamala represented by Eng. Stephen Kitonsa recognized the best public procuring entities based on their transparency level in the different dimensions of; enabling environment, citizen participation, capacities, processes and information discloser.
He underscored the importance of infrastructure transparency disclosers which he said enhances accountability while committing continued support and cooperation to champion the cause of CoST Uganda.
“Infrastructure transparency disclosers is important, given the level of investment there is a need for promotion and maintenance of high-quality infrastructure. The Infrastructure Transparency Index report provides an independent mechanism to enhance quality assurance and transparency in infrastructure projects”
The CoST Uganda Manager, Eng Odong Geofrey said in projects where there is minimal discloser of project information to the public there has been challenges of mismanagement, he called on entities to utilize the available discloser platforms to citizens to access information and participate in the implementation of the infrastructure projects.
The 2024 ITI Report
In the 2024 ITI report, the best three central government winners included Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) with 80.26%), Ministry of Work and Transport at 60.66%, and the Office of the President at 55.23%, while on the side of the best Local Government entities, the best three winners are Mpigi District Local Government with (42.29%) followed by Jinja at 40.97% and Kabale with 40.27%.
Among the most improved procuring entities according to the report is National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) scoring from 20.38% in 2021 to 48.86 in 2024 indicating a remarkable improvement of +28.48% points attributing it to targeted interventions or internal reforms in transparency.
The key recommendations in the report include: bridging the implementation gap, full implementation of a lifecycle transparency framework, improving capacity building and knowledge sharing, and enhanced oversight and accountability among others.
