Uganda’s work with the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative CoST is helping to improve quality infrastructure through increasing transparency and accountability, writes Justine Wharton.
Infrastructure Transparency Initiative CoST’s recent survey of construction firms revealed a stark challenge – only 14% of respondents in Africa believe that companies compete on a level playing field, with other regions painting a similar picture.
For many consulting engineers and firms, unfairness, mismanagement and opaque public procurement processes remain major barriers to a competitive market. Yet when transparency is lacking, no one wins. Costs rise, trust declines and competition weakens. Ultimately, citizens pay the price through poorer-quality infrastructure and services.
Against this backdrop, the experience of Uganda, a member of CoST – the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative, offers valuable lessons for consulting engineers and the wider industry. Uganda demonstrates how targeted reforms, open information and constructive engagement between government, industry and civil society can create a more conducive environment for engineering excellence – for the benefit of both citizens and the markets that serve them.
The five steps Uganda took
- Transparency begins with accessible, standardised information
Uganda’s most significant reform was integrating open data standards (OC4IDS) into its government procurement portal in 2021. Today, the platform publishes information on over $1bn in infrastructure projects. For consulting engineers and the wider private sector this type of open, comparable data is invaluable to inform project feasibility, risk assessments and future bids. For procuring entities, it ensures engineering firms can compete more fairly and invest more confidently in opportunities.
- Industry-government dialogue produces better decision-making
Uganda’s progress is rooted in a multi-stakeholder model, with engineering contractors and professional bodies at the centre. The Uganda National Association of Builders, Suppliers and Engineering Contractors works directly with the Ministry of Works and Transport, PPDA, AFIC and procuring entities to advance reforms.
This collaboration has strengthened relationships with hundreds of firms, increased firms’ understanding of procurement laws and processes and created channels for industry feedback. Uganda demonstrates how sustained dialogue between government and the engineering sector leads to more practical procurement rules and greater trust.
- Engineers and the public should have an open dialogue
Through barazas – open public forums that bring communities together with contractors and government decision makers – over 3,000 citizens have influenced infrastructure delivery. For engineering, early and structured dialogue with communities strengthens trust, reduces disputes and enables smoother implementation.
The model has proven so effective that Uganda amended the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act (2021) to legally mandate citizen participation in monitoring public infrastructure contracts.
- Scrutiny drives professional accountability
Uganda has embraced public scrutiny as a constructive tool through independent reviews (assurance) and the Infrastructure Transparency Index. Engineers, architects and quantity surveyors contribute directly to these reviews by interpreting technical data and communicating findings in accessible ways. This scrutiny helps identify and resolve issues early.
Recognising that the media plays an important role in building trust with the private sector, Uganda has trained journalists on how to use published data to investigate and report on infrastructure stories, resulting in more than 100 data-driven stories on public infrastructure being published; increasing visibility, accountability and trust in the sector.
- Build a more open, inclusive regulatory environment
Finally, Uganda created a more enabling procurement environment by directly addressing industry concerns. Continuous dialogue between business associations and the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority resulted in several influential reforms:
- Bid securities reduced from 2% to 1% of contract value.
- Performance securities cut from 10% to 5%.
- 15% of contract awards reserved for women, youth and persons with disabilities.
These changes have improved accessibility for small and medium-sized firms and widened participation in the market. More bidders means stronger competition, better pricing and more diverse engineering solutions.
Five lessons for consulting firms
For consultancy and engineering firms, Uganda’s experience offers practical, adaptable steps that other countries and markets can learn from.
- Make data work for the sector: Open, standardised information reduces risk and equips both consulting engineers and procuring entities to make stronger, evidence-based decisions on project design, feasibility and delivery.
- Build engagement between government and industry: Many of Uganda’s reforms emerged through continuous engagement between industry and procuring entities. When engineers, contractors and their associations have a seat at the table, they help shape fairer requirements and more efficient procurement systems.
- Use oversight as a tool for quality: Independent reviews, the Infrastructure Transparency Index and informed media scrutiny identify issues early, improve performance and reduce delivery risks for both clients and engineering teams.
- Enable community engagement to drive better engineering: Meaningful engagement with communities reduces disputes, builds social acceptance and leads to better-designed, more resilient infrastructure. This improves outcomes for engineers, clients and end users.
- Regulate to innovate: Predictable, transparent and inclusive procurement processes widen participation, elevate engineering quality, and create space for more innovative, competitive solutions.
Click here to read a fuller version of this account of CoST’s work in Uganda.
Justine Wharton is the head of advocacy and communications at COST, the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative.
