Determinants and constraints to effective procurement contract management in Uganda: a practitioner's perspective

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants and constraints of effective contract management and its implications on service delivery since public procurement authority has persistently reported low compliance levels as far as contract management is concerned. Empirical research in this area is relatively sparse. Data was collected using a closed ended questionnaire. Significant predictors of determinants for effective contract management were: clear definition of processes and having in place contract management plans, appropriate methods of capturing key lessons from contract management process, accurate definition of roles and having a knowledgeable contract manager. While the major constraints were found to be: lack of political will to monitor contracts; inadequate capacity and lack of integrity. These findings offer a useful foundation for policy and practical improvement in this important area in Uganda.