Officials from the Ministry of Local Government have embarked on a two-day visit to Buvuma District to improve procurement standards and address challenges characteristic of the island community.

Johnson Musinguzi, the Assistant Commissioner in charge of Procurement at MOLG, cautioned on adherence to PPDA regulations. He called for the contract committees to specify if awarded contracts are tax-inclusive or exclusive to avoid confusion.

Procurement officers were also guided that all micro-procurements transacted by user departments should be declared to the CAO or accounting officer. The district was also encouraged to formulate a public asset disposal plan in accordance with the PPDA Regulations 2023.

Buvuma’s CAO, Isa Mbooge, addressed these contractors, pointing out the logistical nightmare contractors face with the reliance on boats and ferries for transportation in the district.

“Boating building materials significantly increases costs. In 2023, we witnessed the worst tragedy of our lives where an overturned boat carrying construction materials claimed six lives and lost all the materials on board,” he said.

Mbooge urged authorities to consider these challenges when evaluating contract bids for projects on the island versus those on the mainland.

He also called upon Public Service, Health Service, and Education Service Commissions to give first preference to volunteers who have shown commitment by working in Buvuma under harsh conditions.

“Some teachers have been working without pay. They are resilient and adapted to the conditions here, yet many newly recruited civil servants refuse to stay and seek transfers shortly after joining the payroll,” he noted.

Mbooge hailed the move from district tender boards to electronic procurement systems, saying it has increased transparency and efficiency.

“The electronic procurement system has eliminated mediocrity because all processes are interlinked, ensuring accountability,” he added.

Buvuma District is an island district in Lake Victoria and hosts about 110,000 residents. Its economy is majorly based on fishing and agriculture, with oil palm farming being one of the major crops.

The district remains largely inaccessible, with means of transport limited to boats and a ferry from Kiyindi in Buikwe District.