Uganda has launched an ambitious nationwide rollout of an enhanced electronic government procurement platform that authorities say will fundamentally transform how billions of shillings in public contracts are awarded, managed and audited, in one of the country’s most significant digital governance reforms.
The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, working with the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), has convened Accounting Officers from the first 100 Procuring and Disposing Entities (PDEs) to spearhead implementation of the Enhanced Electronic Government Procurement System, commonly known as eGP 2.0.
The move marks the next phase of Uganda’s digital public procurement agenda after a three-year pilot involving 36 government entities.
Speaking during the change management engagement in Kampala, Acting Accountant General Godfrey Ssemugooma described eGP 2.0 as far more than a technology upgrade, calling it a structural reform aimed at improving transparency, accountability and value for taxpayers.
“Electronic Government Procurement is not simply an ICT project. It is fundamentally about transforming the way Government conducts procurement,” Ssemugooma said. “It strengthens accountability, improves efficiency, minimizes opportunities for abuse and ensures that every public shilling delivers maximum value for money.”
He stressed that successful implementation would depend primarily on leadership rather than software, urging Accounting Officers to champion institutional change as government shifts from paper-based procurement to a fully digital ecosystem.
The enhanced platform, developed by Ugandan software engineers, is being introduced in phases beginning with supplier registration, procurement planning, procurement initiation and tendering. Additional modules covering bid evaluation, contract awards and contract management are expected to go live by December.
Ssemugooma said the platform creates a permanent electronic audit trail by preventing procurement documents from being altered after submission, significantly reducing opportunities for bid manipulation and procurement fraud.
Real-time reporting capabilities will also enable government agencies to consolidate procurement plans automatically and strengthen expenditure oversight.
The system is expected to lower transaction costs for businesses, particularly suppliers located outside Kampala, by allowing the entire procurement process to be conducted online.
Florence Nakyeyune, Senior Systems Quality Assurance Officer at the Ministry of Finance, said eGP 2.0 integrates with multiple government databases, including the Uganda Revenue Authority, National Social Security Fund and company registration systems, enabling automatic verification of supplier compliance.
She added that the platform incorporates Artificial Intelligence, blockchain technology and enhanced cybersecurity to improve procurement integrity, automate workflows and strengthen compliance across government institutions.
Meanwhile, Dr. Isaac Kyaligonza, Commissioner for Procurement Policy and Management at the Ministry of Finance, revealed that revised eGP 2.0 procurement guidelines took effect on July 1, 2026, introducing shorter procurement timelines to accelerate government purchasing.
The revised framework replaces minimum bidding periods with maximum procurement timelines, a shift designed to speed up project implementation while maintaining legal compliance.
Kyaligonza also noted that the new system introduces unique supplier registration through PPDA, accommodates emergency procurements with mandatory post-event system uploads for accountability, and standardises ICT procurement to improve interoperability across government agencies.
On the implementation side, Catherine Natukunda, PPDA’s Manager for Procurement and Disposal Capacity Building, assured Accounting Officers that comprehensive change management measures have been put in place to ensure a seamless transition from manual procurement processes.
Despite anticipated challenges such as internet connectivity, staff adaptation and institutional readiness, officials expressed confidence that continuous technical support, user training and stakeholder engagement will ensure successful nationwide adoption.
The rollout of eGP 2.0 is expected to modernise Uganda’s procurement system, improve investor confidence, reduce administrative costs and strengthen public financial management as the government accelerates its broader digital transformation agenda.