Ethical Issues and Procurement Process in Public Sector A Case Study of Government Aided Health Units in Makindye Division:

ABSTRACT:

This research dealt with the effects of ethical issues on the procurement process in public health sector of Makindye Division Kampala. The study was conducted through a descriptive survey research Design. The research was guided by the following research questions; what is the relationship between ethiQs and the procurement process of public Health sector in Makindye

Division?, what is the impact of unethical conduct on the procurement process of public Health Sector in Makindye Division?, what is the significance of the procurement process to the public Health Sector in Makindye Division?.

The study tackled issues as cited in the study objectives; To find out the relationship between ethics and the procurement process of the public I-lealth sector in Makindye Division, to assess the impact of unethical conduct on the procurement process of Public Health sector in Makindye Division and to analyze the significance of Procurement process in the public Health Sector in Makindye Division. A sample size of 52 respondents was determined using Solvets formula,

n N 1 +N(e)2

Respondents were provided with Questionnaires to fill so as to ascertain their positions as regards to questions asked. Also senior staffs were subjected to interviews in order to gather a more detailed version of their judgments as concerns the ethical issues and the procurement

process. The findings were presented in tables and pie-charts and the researcher deducted that;

The research experienced serious gaps especially as regards to the amalgamating the information from various Health centers in Makindye Division as not all had consistent information regarding to the pre-determined Questionnaires provided to the respondents.

She advanced the following recommendations that;

A detailed research on the impact of Ethics on the construction industry. Ethical considerations be entirely emphasized and adopted so as to eliminate the rampant

occurrence of unacceptable values and norms. Ethical code of conduct should be pinned to the walls of offices to keep reminding the employees of their due responsibility of upholding ethical standards

TABLE OF CONTENTS

APPROVAL

DEDICATION H

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT’ iii

LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES’ iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS v

ABSTRACT’ Viii

CHAPTER ONE 1

INTRODUCTION’ 1

1.0. INTRODUCTION’ 1

1.1 Background to the research: 1

1.2. Purpose of the study’ 2

1.3. Pr~bIem Statement’ 2

1.3. R~s~rch objectives: 2

1.4. Research Questions’ 3

1.5. Scope of the study’ 3

1.5.1. Content Scope 3

1.5.2. Geographical scope’ 3

_1.5.3. Time Scope: 3

1.6: Significance of the Study’ 3

1.7. Conceptual Framework’ 4

CHAPTER TWO 5

LITERATURE REVIEW: 5

2.0. Introduction’

2.1. Ethical issues 5

2.2 Procurement process’ 6

2.3: Medical Ethics’ 7

2.4 Ethics in Public Procurement’ 8

2.5 Virtue Ethics’ 11

V

2.6 Unethical behavior in the public procurement process’ 12

_CHAPTER THREE 13

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 13

3.1. Introduction 13

3.2. Study design 13

3.3. Study population 13’

3.4. Sample size 13

3.5. Research instruments 14

3.5.1. Qualitative tools of data collection 14

3.5.2. Quantitative tools of data collection 15

3.6 Validity and Reliability of Instruments 15

3.6.1 Validity of instruments 15

3.6.2 Reliability of instruments 16

3.7. Data quality control/quality assurance 16

3.7.1.Piloting 16

3.7.2. Training 16

3.7.3 Editing questionnaires 16

3.8. Data analysis 17

3.8.1. Editing 17

3.8.2. Coding 17

3.8.3. Tabulation 17

3.8.4. Establishing themes 17

3.8.5. Report writing 17

3.9. Ethical considerations 17

3.10. Challenges faced and how they were handled 18

vi

CHAPTERF0UTh19

RESEARCH FINDINBGS, PRESENTATIONS, INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS:19

4.0. Introductiorr 19

4.1. Age of Respondents 19

4.13. Education level of respondents~ 20

4.14 Marital Status of Respondents 21

4.1.5: Work Experience of Respondents 22

4.2. Responses on Ethics and Procurement Process in Makindye Division 22

4.3: Responses on Unethical behaviors 24

CHAPTER FIVE 26

DISCUSIONS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 26

5.1. Dis4issions 26

5,1.1 The r~iationship between ethics and the procurement process of the public Health sector in

Makindye Division 26

5.1.2. Impact of unethical conduct on the procurement process of Public Health sector in

Makindye Division’ 26

5.1.3. The significance of Procurement process in the public Health Sector in Makindye Division

27

5.2: Recommendations’ 27

5.3. Areas for further Research’ 27

5.4. Conclusiorr 27

REFERENCES ‘ 27

Appendix I: Interview Guide for the senior staff 30

Appendix ii Questionnaire’ 31

Appendix III: Work Plan’ 34

Appendix IV: Estimated Budget’