Economic and Business News Leo Odera Omolo

PROCUREMENT policies within the East African Community (EAC) should be harmonise, Benon Basheka, the Institute of Procurement Professionals in Uganda chairman, has said.

He said harmonisation was needed if procurement professionals were benefit from regional integration.

Basheka said it does not make sense for the EAC countries to have different policies and claim to be integrated.
He noted that all countries within the European Union use similar procurement standards and policies.

“It is a matter of getting the current procurement policies from each of the states and harmonise them to come up with one document,” he said. Basheka said the harmonised policy would help to embed a culture of professional and value-driven procurement across the region.

This, he added, will bring transparency and accountability in awarding public contracts.

“It will also help procurement professionals to think beyond their countries, and hence be able to take up opportunities across the common market.

“If you have the skills required for an advertised job in Kenya, why not apply for it,” he said.

Basheka urged procurement professionals within in Uganda to build skills in order to compete for opportunities regionally.

The review of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority Act of 2003 has been completed, and the draft document is waiting for Cabinet approval.