Uganda Management Institute (UMI) officially hosted the 10th International Public Procurement Conference (IPPC10) at Hotel Africana, in Kampala, Uganda from 3^rd to 5^th November 2026 under the theme “Emerging Paradigm Shift in Public Procurement.”. The conference brought together a distinguished assembly of international scholars, policymakers, and public sector practitioners who who engaged in high-level deliberations to revolutionize institutional purchasing models, strengthen global supply chain, and spearhead sustainable global trade strategies.

The conference was convened by UMI in partnership with Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS), Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Centenary Bank, Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre, Makerere University, Insurance Training College, MMR Technologies and Makerere University Business School.

The global gathering featured prominent international figures from 21 countries across both physical and virtual platforms which elevated Kampala at the epicenter of global public supply chain discourse. Delegates representing South Africa, China, Zambia, Gambia, Zimbabwe, Denmark, Kenya, Singapore, Tanzania, Nigeria, the UK, South Sudan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Mauritania, India, Botswana, Russia, Brazil, Japan, and USA shared the international spotlight to exchange country specific procurement experiences and regulatory frameworks. By benchmarking e-procurement implementations across diverse economic landscapes and evaluating solutions to modern supply chain disruptions, this global cohort forged a unified commitment to institutional integrity, digital innovation and sustainable public value.

UMI Leadership

Demonstrating the institution’s visionary stewardship and commitment to academic excellence, Uganda Management Institute’s executive leadership was prominently represented by members of the Governing Council under the distinguished guidance of Council Chairperson Engineer Steven Kagoda. Formally opening the conference proceedings, UMI’s Director General, Professor James L. Nkata, delivered a compelling call to action, urging African economies to embrace forward-thinking, innovative procurement models that leverage artificial intelligence, retain local economic value and respond dynamically to shifting global trends.

Emphasizing practical, real world execution over abstract theory, Prof. Nkata underscored that economic policies and supply chain frameworks must fundamentally serve human needs. He cautioned that any paradigm failing to deliver tangible citizen welfare faces an inevitable administrative stillbirth.

Keynote Address: Transforming procurement into a strategic engine for National development

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Michael Musanzikwa, the Chief Director of Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets in the Office of the President and Cabinet of the Republic of Zimbabwe. Speaking under the theme “Forging a New Paradigm in Public Procurement & Supply Chain: The Convergence of Theory, Law, Technology, Sustainability and Governance,” His central focus of the address was the necessity of transitioning public procurement from a traditional, compliance driven administrative routine into a strategic driver of national development. He emphasized that the ultimate metric of procurement success is not merely completing a compliant tender process or signing a contract, but delivering functioning, high quality public assets and services such as reliable roads, water systems, schools, and hospitals that tangibly improve the lives of citizens. To achieve this, he called for a Government approach where procurement officers, planners, finance teams, technical departments, legal advisors, and accounting officers collaborate seamlessly from the initial project preparation phase to ensure affordability, risk assessment, and post-delivery maintenance are accounted for before tenders go to market.

Furthermore, he highlighted the role of procurement in economic transformation and the empowerment of local enterprises. He noted that digital transformation such as e-Government Procurement initiatives represent deep institutional transformations that require reliable data, cybersecurity, and institutional commitment. He cautioned that as artificial intelligence and emerging technologies integrate into supply chains, innovation must always be paired with human accountability, data verification, and professional oversight.

Global Perspectives: International Thought Leaders advocated for Cross-Border Convergence and Professionalization

The IPPC Chairman Prof. Cao Fuguo emphasized several vital principles that included bridging theory and practice, global convergence, adaptation to legal and regulatory structures and multidisciplinary collaboration. He stressed the necessity of adapting to manage modern global challenges such as digital transformation, electronic procurement (e-GP), and cross-border trade integration while maintaining institutional transparency and integrity. He further advocated for dismantling institutional silos, emphasizing that modern public procurement requires deep convergence across law, technology, economics, governance, and sustainability to deliver true public value.

In his address to the delegates, the CIPS Southern Africa Regional Director Mr. John Paul Vos highlighted several key paradigm shifts shaping the future of global public sector supply chains that included transitioning from Compliance driven to “Fit-for-Purpose Systems”, professionalization and human capital development. Other International discussants included Mr. Sebastian Chua, Singapore’s Health Promotion Board’s Chief Procurement Officer.

Government commitment

The Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja was represented by the Second Deputy Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dr. Crispus Kiyonga who emphasised that sustainable public procurement relies on coherent policy frameworks, disciplined institutional execution, competent leadership and the political resolve to enforce compliance. He reiterated that public procurement sits at the heart of state capacity, socio-economic transformation and public trust. He emphasized that building a truly sustainable and resilient public procurement system requires far more than passive rules; it demands coherent policy frameworks, disciplined institutional execution, competent ethical leadership and the unwavering political resolve to enforce compliance across all government ministries, departments, and agencies.

Highlighting the strategic weight of hosting international forums like IPPC10, Dr. Kiyonga noted that procurement must evolve into a proactive instrument of national development that directly improves citizen welfare. He called on accounting officers and public sector leaders to eliminate systemic inefficiencies, curb leakages, and ensure that every shilling of taxpayers’ money yields tangible, high-quality public infrastructure and social services. Furthermore, he reaffirmed the government’s firm commitment to fostering an enabling environment where transparent digital procurement, local enterprise empowerment and strategic public-private partnerships can thrive, reinforcing Uganda’s standing as a regional leader in progressive governance and public sector innovation.

The PPDA Executive Director Mr. Canon Benson Turamye highlighted procurement as an engine for social inclusion, reiterating Uganda’s statutory requirement reserving 15 percent of public procurement budgets for affirmative action initiatives. Debates on the impact of shifts in digital transformation, institutional accountability and contract management were discussed.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Sports, Dr. Kedrace Turyagyenda outlined critical intersection between public sector resource allocation, national human capital development and practical skilling strategies. Her remarks focused on investing in human capital through emphasizing that national development and effective public service delivery, strategic alignment of institutional procurement and public expenditures in the education and sports sectors which need to directly support national socio-economic transformation goals and youth empowerment.

The Uganda Tourist Board’s Chief Executive Officer Ms. Juliana Kaggwa emphasized the promotion of Local Heritage and Tourism alongside technical procurement. She welcomed international delegates and invited them to experience Uganda’s rich natural heritage and cultural tourism attractions.

The PPDA Executive Director, Mr. Canon Benson Turamye emphasized value for money through the four E’s: Economy, Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Equity. He noted that Uganda channels 65% of its budget through public procurement, yet only 22% of contracts are completed on time, and just 26% of contract values remain within budget. He also highlighted key integrations in the PPDA law, including lifecycle costing, green climate-resilient specifications, the inclusion of environmental, social, health, and safety (ESHS) requirements in every contract, and strongly highlighted inclusive procurement.

Dr. Isaac Kyaligonza, Commissioner and Head of the Procurement Policy and Management Department at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, highlighted key reforms required across government entities to modernize public spending. He called on public institutions to fundamentally revise and structure their procurement approaches to be more proactive, efficient and aligned with national development goals. His remarks focused on strengthening policy execution, optimizing public resource allocation, and ensuring that procurement frameworks deliver measurable economic value rather than serving as mere administrative compliance checklists.

Insight from the Diplomatic Corps: Netherlands advocates for sustainable purchasing Fred Hesse, the First Secretary from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kampala, Uganda delivered a compelling address highlighting the need for comprehensive procurement reforms and procurement digitalization. He stressed that modern public procurement must move away from rigid, traditional systems focused solely on initial costs, advocating instead for digital transparency, data-driven platforms and secure e-procurement architectures that curb corruption, foster fair market competition and build public trust. Building on this framework, Hesse emphasized that Green Public Procurement (GPP) serves as a vital strategic driver of economic modernization and technological innovation. By intentionally demanding climate resilient infrastructure and sustainable solutions, public authorities can create predictable market demand, incentivize private enterprises to scale green technologies and prove that environmental stewardship and economic growth go hand in hand.

Plenary Dialogues

Comprehensive plenary discussions and breakout sessions explored critical dimensions of the modern procurement sector. Experts demonstrated how robust cybersecurity infrastructure forms the essential foundation of trusted e-procurement portals, safeguarding sensitive public data and reinforcing civic confidence. Furthermore, delegates examined vital environmental and sector-specific applications, spearheading strategic dialogues on integrating green growth and sustainable supply chain practices into standard public purchasing workflows across developing economies.

Leveraging Public-Private Partnerships to Transform Health Sector Supply Chains

Beyond general public sector policy, IPPC10 dedicated significant focus to critical social sectors, particularly healthcare delivery. Panelists and researchers evaluated three distinct public-private partnership (PPP) frameworks: service contracts, concession agreements, and management contracts. While the findings revealed that all three structures contribute positively to healthcare outcomes, service contracts demonstrated the strongest direct association with improved service delivery. Crucially, experts underscored that even the most sophisticated PPP models cannot succeed in a vacuum; long-term effectiveness remains fundamentally dependent on strong foundational health system resources, particularly a well-trained workforce and consistent medicine supply chains.

Cultural Gala Dinner

As part of the IPPC10, delegates were treated to a vibrant Cultural Gala Dinner at UMI. The evening offered an authentic taste of Ugandan hospitality, showcasing rich traditional music, dance, and local cuisine. It served as a relaxed, memorable networking platform where international scholars, policymakers, and industry practitioners could connect, share insights, and celebrate global cultural diversity beyond the technical conference sessions.

About IPPC

It is widely recognized as one of the premier global academic and professional forums dedicated to public procurement, public sector supply chain management and regulatory reforms. The IPPC network was launched in 2004 with a conference that was held in USA and brought together 125 academics, policy makers and practitioners from over 20 countries to bridge the divide between theoretical research and real world purchasing practice

Conclusion

The conference concluded on a triumphant note with the presentation of the prestigious Best Paper Awards, honoring groundbreaking academic and empirical research that pushed the boundaries of public sector supply chain thinking. Beyond the formal recognitions, participants departed with invaluable outcomes that included cross-border institutional networks, practical frameworks for e-procurement implementation and actionable strategies to modernize national purchasing systems. Organizers expressed deep gratitude to the key corporate and institutional sponsors whose support was vital in staging a summit of this magnitude. As the delegates bid farewell to Kampala, IPPC10 issued a unified global call to action, urging public institutions worldwide to transcend routine, compliance -driven purchasing and adopt strategic, technology enabled procurement that delivers measurable public value and drives sustainable national development.