Procurement Process and Performance of Uganda Prisons Service

ABSTRACT This study carried out an investigation on procurement process and performance in the Uganda Prison Service. The objectives of the study were 1) To investigate the stages in the procurement process at Uganda Prisons Service 2) To determine the level of performance at Uganda Prisons Service and 3) To establish the relationship between the procurement process and performance in the Uganda Prison Service. The study employed descriptive correlation study design which involved both qualitative and quantitative approaches. With regards to this method, the researcher used a structured questionnaire which was based on simple and understandable questions. Systematic random sampling and purposive sampling techniques were used to determine the respondents to take part in the study. Responses from the respondents suggested that the procurement process was below par. The researcher found out that though some strides have been made in provision of strategic procurement in Uganda Prison Services, still there are a couple of challenges like the bidding process being too long and marred with lots of corruption cases all of which hamper full implementation of the procurement process. Generally, performance was ' also confirmed to be too low. It was also established that there is indeed a relationship between procurement process and performance which is positive and average measuring at 0.562 on the Pearson correlation scale. It was recommended by the researcher that the procurement process should be synchronized with the budget, the entity should solicit suggestions from end users, allow for competitive bidding, adherence to the PPDA Act 2003, set up a special contract award committee and revising and amendment of the PPDA Act.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS 

DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................................. 1 

APPROVAl ............................................................................................................................................. ~ ..... 11 

TABlE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................................ v 

liST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................................... IX 

liST OF EQUATIONS ................................................................................................................................. X 

liST OF ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................................. XI 

1.0 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 1 

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY ................................................................................................................... 1 

1.2 STATEMENTOFTHE PROBLEM .................................................................................................................. 4 

1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY .......................................................................................................................... 5 

1.4 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................................... 5 

1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS ............................................................................................................................ 5 

1.6 HYPOTHESIS ........................................................................................................................................... 5 

1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY .............................................................................................................................. 6 

1.8 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY ................................................................................................................... 6 

1. 9 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS ....................................................................... 7 

CHAPTER TW0 ............................................................................................................................................ 8 I 

liTERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................................................... 8 

2.0 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 8 

2.1 THEORffiCAL REVIEW ............................................................................................................................. 8 

2.2 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ......... .' ........................................................................................................... 10 

2.3 RELATED STUDIES ................................................................................................................................. 21 

2.4 RESEARCH GAPS ................................................................................................................................... 22 

METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................................ 24 

3.0 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 24 

3.1 RESEARCH DESIGN ................................................................................................................................ 24 

3.2 RESEARCH POPULATION ........................................................................................................................ 24 

3.3 SAMPLE SIZE ......................................................................................................................................... 25 

3.4 SAMPLING PROCEDURE .......................................................................................................................... 26 

3.5 RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS ...................................................................................................................... 26 

' 3.6 VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF RESEARCH INSTRUMENT .......................................................................... 27 

3.7 DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE .............................................................................................................. 28 

3.8 DATA ANALYSIS .................................................................................................................................... 28 

3. 9 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS .................................................................................................................... 28 

3.10 LIMITATION .......................................................................................................................................... 29 

CHAPTER FOUR ........................................................................................................................................ 30 

FINDINGS PRESENTATION AND ANAlYSIS ..................................................................................... 30 

4.0 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 30 

4.1 ATTRIBUTES OF RESPONDENTS .............................................................................................................. 30 

v 

4.2 PROCUREMENT PROCESS ........... .' ........................................................................................................... 33 

4.4 GENERAL STATISTICS OF STUDY VARIABLES ........................................................................................... 52 

DISCUSSIONS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMEDATIONS ............................................................ 61 

5.0 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 61 

5.1 DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS ..................................................................................................................... 61 

5.2 CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................................................... 66 

5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................................................................................. 67 

5.4 AREAS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH ............................................................................................................ 67 

REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................. 68 

APPENDIX I: RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS ....................................................................................................... 1 

APPENDIX III: STUDY BUDGET ............................................................................................................... VIII 

APPENDIX V: MEAN INTERVAL CALCULATION ...................................................................................... x 

APPENDIX VI: PEARSON SCALE OF INTERPRETATION ......................................................................... x1 

APPENDIX VII: KEY TO QUESTION VARIABLES ..................................................................................... XII 

APPENDIX VIII: RESEARCHER'S CURRICULUM VITAE .......................................................................... x111