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Papers by Francis Ssennoga
In Uganda, under current procurement arrangements, few domestic firms are fully competitive. Most... more In Uganda, under current procurement arrangements, few domestic firms are fully competitive. Most of these firms, just like in many other developing countries, are small and medium sized. These SMEs face obstacles at every stage such as poor production techniques, lack of expertise, and the lack of information about potential contracts. For firms to succeed in the global market there is a need for them to understand their internal capabilities with regard to bidding for public procurement contracts. This paper presents the results of a recent research study on SME capacity in Uganda to bid for and win international contracts. It suggests and tests key components of SME capacity that will need further attention if Ugandan firms are to improve in terms of participation in the public procurement market.
According to the 2007 annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency Internat... more According to the 2007 annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International, Uganda is ranked as the 11th most corrupt country out of a survey of 179 countries. With only 2.8 CPI score, corruption in Uganda is still a big hindrance to effective resource utilization and efficient service delivery. The research results generated through questionnaires and interviews, confirm that corruption exists in public procurement in Kampala district which influences awarding of contracts. So, despite government effort towards creating a legal and institutional framework required to fight it, corruption in public procurement in Uganda is still pervasive, institutionalised and endemic. Unlike in most existing literature that indicates that corruption is more prevalent at specification stage, in Uganda, it occurs at evaluation stage. We suggest that if corruption is to be reduced in the country, there should be a cultural transformation, political goodwill to fight self a...
His research interest is in the area of integrating developing countries into the global public p... more His research interest is in the area of integrating developing countries into the global public procurement framework. Kambaza Stephen Faculty of education is a lecturer in Kyambogo University in the Fcaulity of Psychology(psychometry) His interests are Psychometric assessment: Values, beliefs, attitude measurement, Influence of values and beliefs on life perceptions and orientation, Development of materialism, consumer psychology. ABSTRACT. Recent empirical studies point to structural supply chain constraints in the supply of essential drugs in developing countries, hence calling for interventions and policy direction. Despite Uganda's commitment to improve drug access and availability, actual realization remains low and structural bottlenecks in the chain have not been identified and documented. A cross sectional survey was conducted on 240 respondents in four malaria prone districts. Structural bottlenecks at each stage of the supply chain have been systematically identified and documented as a starting point. Findings indicated hospitals were mainly affected by lack of credible and accessible drug consumption information, poor planning, forecasting and logistics. Health centre IVs mainly faced inadequate procurement skills and consumption information. Health centre IIIs encountered poor procurement practices and logistics. Health centre IIs faced poor procurement practices, collaborative linkages and logistics. These findings add to the literature of the increasingly complex drugs supply chains in developing countries. The paper concluded that access and availability of essential drugs remains sub-optimal. Recommendations are drawn towards policy interventions aimed at strengthening programmes at local governments, investing resources in collaborative services, training staff in procurement best practices, and logistical management.
To achieve social economic objectives, governments usually institute discriminatory practices in ... more To achieve social economic objectives, governments usually institute discriminatory practices in their country’s public procurement framework. Discriminatory procurement is the practice by governments to favour their own domestic suppliers over foreign firms for advertised contracts. Favouring domestic firms over large, possibly cheaper foreign firms, it is argued will create a stimulus to the economy through injections. Injections to the economy will stimulate the expansion of infant industries, foster growth of underdeveloped regions, create employment and improve the standard of living. On the other hand, increased openness of public procurement markets to allow in foreign firms, has been justified as a practice that enhances competitiveness, reduces cost of procurement by government leading to efficient public resources utilisation. Countries are then faced with a problem of making a decision of opening the procurement markets given the rather contradicting policy outcomes. Our ...
Scientific African, May 1, 2019
Despite agriculture being the main economic activity in Uganda, increasing food prices within the... more Despite agriculture being the main economic activity in Uganda, increasing food prices within the country point to the growing challenge of food insecurity. In 2016, food shortage was reported in some parts of Uganda (mainly in Karamoja sub-region and parts of Serere) and government resorted to temporary relief distribution of food from other regions of the country. The acute food shortage in one part of the country while another part, a few hundred kilometers away, has excess farm output calls into question the efficiency of the supply chain of some agro-commodities. This research attempts to examine the challenges faced in the production and supply of bananas in Uganda and how the supply chain perspective can help us address these challenges better. We juxtapose the supply chain approach against the value chain perspective and argue that the supply chain perspective offers a much deeper understanding of market-based challenges, which affect livelihoods of smallholders who often sell their products at rock-bottom prices. A cross sectional survey of various banana production and consumptions points in Uganda was conducted. The findings show that losses in the supply chain accounted for about 29% of banana production-a figure slightly lower than that 40% previously reported in the literature. In addition, the farmers did not benefit from increased food prices due to inadequate market information at their disposal despite banana value chains having recently received significant development attention. We also found that infrastructural bottlenecks and limited collaboration and coordination among smallholders heavily affected the supply of bananas in the country. This is arguably a key factor that strongly explains the food insecurity problem in Uganda. We conclude that the findings point to a different problem, which is that of a dysfunctional supply chain structure of bananas from the rural areas to urban centres in Kampala.
Journal of Public Procurement
Developing countries face a problem of making a decision of opening up public procurement markets... more Developing countries face a problem of making a decision of opening up public procurement markets to all suppliers irrespective of their country of origin. The perceived benefit of opening up procurement markets (non-discriminatory practices) is that it enhances competitiveness, leading to efficient public resources utilisation. Governments discriminating against foreign firms in favour of local suppliers are motivated by the desire to achieve benefits such as, stimulating infant industries, fostering underdeveloped regions and creating employment. This paper examines both arguments and makes recommendations as to how developing countries could open up procurement markets without losing their social and economic objectives.
To achieve social economic objectives, governments usually institute discriminatory practices in ... more To achieve social economic objectives, governments usually institute discriminatory practices in their country’s public procurement framework. Discriminatory procurement is the practice by governments to favour their own domestic suppliers over foreign firms for advertised contracts. Favouring domestic firms over large, possibly cheaper foreign firms, it is argued will create a stimulus to the economy through injections. Injections to the economy will stimulate the expansion of infant industries, foster growth of underdeveloped regions, create employment and improve the standard of living. On the other hand, increased openness of public procurement markets to allow in foreign firms, has been justified as a practice that enhances competitiveness, reduces cost of procurement by government leading to efficient public resources utilisation. Countries are then faced with a problem of making a decision of opening the procurement markets given the rather contradicting policy outcomes. Our ...
In Uganda, under current procurement arrangements, few domestic firms are fully competitive. Most... more In Uganda, under current procurement arrangements, few domestic firms are fully competitive. Most of these firms, just like in many other developing countries, are small and medium sized. These SMEs face obstacles at every stage such as poor production techniques, lack of expertise, and the lack of information about potential contracts. For firms to succeed in the global market there is a need for them to understand their internal capabilities with regard to bidding for public procurement contracts. This paper presents the results of a recent research study on SME capacity in Uganda to bid for and win international contracts. It suggests and tests key components of SME capacity that will need further attention if Ugandan firms are to improve in terms of participation in the public procurement market.
According to the 2007 annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency Internat... more According to the 2007 annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International, Uganda is ranked as the 11th most corrupt country out of a survey of 179 countries. With only 2.8 CPI score, corruption in Uganda is still a big hindrance to effective resource utilization and efficient service delivery. The research results generated through questionnaires and interviews, confirm that corruption exists in public procurement in Kampala district which influences awarding of contracts. So, despite government effort towards creating a legal and institutional framework required to fight it, corruption in public procurement in Uganda is still pervasive, institutionalised and endemic. Unlike in most existing literature that indicates that corruption is more prevalent at specification stage, in Uganda, it occurs at evaluation stage. We suggest that if corruption is to be reduced in the country, there should be a cultural transformation, political goodwill to fight self a...
His research interest is in the area of integrating developing countries into the global public p... more His research interest is in the area of integrating developing countries into the global public procurement framework. Kambaza Stephen Faculty of education is a lecturer in Kyambogo University in the Fcaulity of Psychology(psychometry) His interests are Psychometric assessment: Values, beliefs, attitude measurement, Influence of values and beliefs on life perceptions and orientation, Development of materialism, consumer psychology. ABSTRACT. Recent empirical studies point to structural supply chain constraints in the supply of essential drugs in developing countries, hence calling for interventions and policy direction. Despite Uganda's commitment to improve drug access and availability, actual realization remains low and structural bottlenecks in the chain have not been identified and documented. A cross sectional survey was conducted on 240 respondents in four malaria prone districts. Structural bottlenecks at each stage of the supply chain have been systematically identified and documented as a starting point. Findings indicated hospitals were mainly affected by lack of credible and accessible drug consumption information, poor planning, forecasting and logistics. Health centre IVs mainly faced inadequate procurement skills and consumption information. Health centre IIIs encountered poor procurement practices and logistics. Health centre IIs faced poor procurement practices, collaborative linkages and logistics. These findings add to the literature of the increasingly complex drugs supply chains in developing countries. The paper concluded that access and availability of essential drugs remains sub-optimal. Recommendations are drawn towards policy interventions aimed at strengthening programmes at local governments, investing resources in collaborative services, training staff in procurement best practices, and logistical management.
To achieve social economic objectives, governments usually institute discriminatory practices in ... more To achieve social economic objectives, governments usually institute discriminatory practices in their country’s public procurement framework. Discriminatory procurement is the practice by governments to favour their own domestic suppliers over foreign firms for advertised contracts. Favouring domestic firms over large, possibly cheaper foreign firms, it is argued will create a stimulus to the economy through injections. Injections to the economy will stimulate the expansion of infant industries, foster growth of underdeveloped regions, create employment and improve the standard of living. On the other hand, increased openness of public procurement markets to allow in foreign firms, has been justified as a practice that enhances competitiveness, reduces cost of procurement by government leading to efficient public resources utilisation. Countries are then faced with a problem of making a decision of opening the procurement markets given the rather contradicting policy outcomes. Our ...
Scientific African, May 1, 2019
Despite agriculture being the main economic activity in Uganda, increasing food prices within the... more Despite agriculture being the main economic activity in Uganda, increasing food prices within the country point to the growing challenge of food insecurity. In 2016, food shortage was reported in some parts of Uganda (mainly in Karamoja sub-region and parts of Serere) and government resorted to temporary relief distribution of food from other regions of the country. The acute food shortage in one part of the country while another part, a few hundred kilometers away, has excess farm output calls into question the efficiency of the supply chain of some agro-commodities. This research attempts to examine the challenges faced in the production and supply of bananas in Uganda and how the supply chain perspective can help us address these challenges better. We juxtapose the supply chain approach against the value chain perspective and argue that the supply chain perspective offers a much deeper understanding of market-based challenges, which affect livelihoods of smallholders who often sell their products at rock-bottom prices. A cross sectional survey of various banana production and consumptions points in Uganda was conducted. The findings show that losses in the supply chain accounted for about 29% of banana production-a figure slightly lower than that 40% previously reported in the literature. In addition, the farmers did not benefit from increased food prices due to inadequate market information at their disposal despite banana value chains having recently received significant development attention. We also found that infrastructural bottlenecks and limited collaboration and coordination among smallholders heavily affected the supply of bananas in the country. This is arguably a key factor that strongly explains the food insecurity problem in Uganda. We conclude that the findings point to a different problem, which is that of a dysfunctional supply chain structure of bananas from the rural areas to urban centres in Kampala.
Journal of Public Procurement
Developing countries face a problem of making a decision of opening up public procurement markets... more Developing countries face a problem of making a decision of opening up public procurement markets to all suppliers irrespective of their country of origin. The perceived benefit of opening up procurement markets (non-discriminatory practices) is that it enhances competitiveness, leading to efficient public resources utilisation. Governments discriminating against foreign firms in favour of local suppliers are motivated by the desire to achieve benefits such as, stimulating infant industries, fostering underdeveloped regions and creating employment. This paper examines both arguments and makes recommendations as to how developing countries could open up procurement markets without losing their social and economic objectives.
To achieve social economic objectives, governments usually institute discriminatory practices in ... more To achieve social economic objectives, governments usually institute discriminatory practices in their country’s public procurement framework. Discriminatory procurement is the practice by governments to favour their own domestic suppliers over foreign firms for advertised contracts. Favouring domestic firms over large, possibly cheaper foreign firms, it is argued will create a stimulus to the economy through injections. Injections to the economy will stimulate the expansion of infant industries, foster growth of underdeveloped regions, create employment and improve the standard of living. On the other hand, increased openness of public procurement markets to allow in foreign firms, has been justified as a practice that enhances competitiveness, reduces cost of procurement by government leading to efficient public resources utilisation. Countries are then faced with a problem of making a decision of opening the procurement markets given the rather contradicting policy outcomes. Our ...