Browsing by Author "Ssennoga, Francis"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Food insecurity as a supply chain problem. Evidence and lessons from the production and supply of bananas in Uganda
    (Scientific African, 2019) Ssennoga, Francis; Mugurusi, Godfrey; Nagitta Oluka, Pros
    Despite agriculture being the main economic activity in Uganda, increasing food prices within the country point to the growing challenge of food insecurity. In 2016, food short- age was reported in some parts of Uganda (mainly in Karamoja sub-region and parts of Serere) and government resorted to temporary relief distribution of food from other re- gions of the country. The acute food shortage in one part of the country while another part, a few hundred kilometers away, has excess farm output calls into question the effi- ciency of the supply chain of some agro-commodities. This research attempts to examine the challenges faced in the production and supply of bananas in Uganda and how the supply chain perspective can help us address these challenges better. We juxtapose the supply chain approach against the value chain per- spective and argue that the supply chain perspective offers a much deeper understanding of market-based challenges, which affect livelihoods of smallholders who often sell their products at rock-bottom prices. A cross sectional survey of various banana production and consumptions points in Uganda was conducted. The findings show that losses in the supply chain accounted for about 29% of banana production –a figure slightly lower than that 40% previously reported in the literature. In addition, the farmers did not benefit from increased food prices due to inadequate market information at their disposal despite banana value chains having re- cently received significant development attention. We also found that infrastructural bot- tlenecks and limited collaboration and coordination among smallholders heavily affected the supply of bananas in the country. This is arguably a key factor that strongly explains the food insecurity problem in Uganda. We conclude that the findings point to a different problem, which is that of a dysfunctional supply chain structure of bananas from the rural areas to urban centres in Kampala.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Tackling Corruption in Public Procurement: A Case of Local Governments in Uganda
    (International Public Procurement conference, Amsterdam, 2008) Nagitta Oluka, Pross; Ssennoga, Francis
    According to the 2007 annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International, Uganda is ranked as the 11th most corrupt country out of a survey of 179 countries. With only 2.8 CPI score, corruption in Uganda is still a big hindrance to effective resource utilization and efficient service delivery. The research results generated through questionnaires and interviews, confirm that corruption exists in public procurement in Kampala district which influences awarding of contracts. So, despite government effort towards creating a legal and institutional framework required to fight it, corruption in public procurement in Uganda is still pervasive, institutionalised and endemic. Unlike in most existing literature that indicates that corruption is more prevalent at specification stage, in Uganda, it occurs at evaluation stage. We suggest that if corruption is to be reduced in the country, there should be a cultural transformation, political goodwill to fight self aggrandizement and a vigilant civil society to act as whistle blowers whenever a case of corruption is sighted. The PPDA, citizenry, district leaders and Civil Society Organisations need to be vibrant and take responsibility for their own actions and decisions, and behave ethically so as to ensure value for money and to uphold the principles of transparency, fairness, non discrimination efficiency and effectiveness in public procurement.