By Gilbert Akampa Kakurugu
MBARARA
On Friday, February 28th, district accounting officers and contracts committees were urged to address the majority of appeals received by the PPDA Appeals Tribunal, which often stem from a lack of guidance provided to complainants regarding bidding procedures.
This call to action was made by Nuwagira Geoffrey Kakira, a member of the PPDA Appeals Tribunal, who represented the committee chairperson Francis Gimara S.C. at Lake View Hotel in Mbarara city. Kakira highlighted the tribunal’s crucial role in Uganda’s public procurement and disposal administrative review system since its establishment in 2021. He explained, “The tribunal handles applications brought by aggrieved bidders regarding decisions made by contracts committees during the procurement process.”
Kakira emphasized that the tribunal was created to alleviate the backlog in courts of law, as it is mandated to deliver judgments within fifteen working days.
Aaron Turahi, the Isingiro District LCV Chairman, welcomed the PPDA tribunal services but expressed concerns about potential corruption. “They are human, and humans are prone to error, but I pray they fulfill their purpose,” he said. Turahi also noted that Isingiro District has faced numerous complaints from contractors, many of whom are accused of intending to deliver substandard work. “A contractor cannot do shoddy work in one district and expect to continue the same in others. Such contractors are blacklisted, and we hope this tribunal will protect us from such crooks,” he added.
Turahi further urged the PPDA Appeals Tribunal to establish additional tribunals at the district level or engage more directly with local governments and contractors, rather than solely interacting with district officers.
Muganda Samuel, the Mbarara City North RCC, representing the RCC of Mbarara City, expressed hope in the tribunal’s services for contractors. However, he raised concerns about delays in resolving issues, citing lost revenue from street parking in Mbarara City due to the tribunal’s slow handling of cases.
In response, Atiku Saki Mansoor, the tribunal registrar, clarified that the tribunal had already made its ruling in the mentioned case. He noted that the aggrieved parties had not re-appealed to indicate dissatisfaction with the tribunal’s decision. “As the tribunal, we cannot know if the contractor has not started work unless they inform our office,” Atiku explained.
Atiku urged aggrieved parties to present their grievances promptly, assuring them that the tribunal delivers verdicts within ten working days upon receiving appeals.
