Core Roles and Responsibilities:

Fast-Track Procurement Approvals:

Bypasses regular bureaucratic procurement procedures to ensure urgent goods, services, or works are acquired quickly.

Approves emergency procurement methods like direct contracting or single-source procurement. 

Coordination and Oversight:

Coordinates procurement activities across multiple ministries, departments, and agencies.

Ensures that all emergency-related purchases are streamlined, cost-effective, and aligned with national emergency response plans.

Resource Allocation:

Identifies priority sectors and allocates financial and material resources accordingly.

Works with national treasuries or finance ministries to mobilize emergency funds.

Policy Guidance and Compliance:

Issues temporary procurement guidelines or derogations from normal procurement law.

Ensures compliance with national laws, international obligations, and donor requirements, especially in situations involving foreign aid.

Monitoring and Reporting:

Monitors emergency procurement contracts for performance and integrity.

Reports to the head of state, cabinet, or parliament on procurement outcomes and challenges during the emergency period.

Anti-Corruption and Transparency:

Implements controls to prevent misuse of emergency procurement powers, including transparency mechanisms and audits.

Example Contexts Where NEPB Plays a Role:

COVID-19 Pandemic: Rapid acquisition of medical supplies, ventilators, PPE, and vaccine logistics.

Conflict Zones: Procurement of humanitarian aid, shelter, or reconstruction services.

Natural Disasters: Fast deployment of relief materials, construction of temporary housing, and restoration of infrastructure.

The mandate of NEPB has been enhanced by addition of the following functions:

1. Suspension of a provider by the Board:

The Board, may following the recommendation of a Procuring and Disposing Entity, or after investigations on its own initiative suspend a provider from engaging in any procurement and disposal process for a period determined by the Board. The grounds for suspension include:

2. Breach of the Code of Ethics of providers

• Debarment from the procurement process of an international agency of which Uganda is a member
• After investigations by the Auditor General and the provider is found to have a record of unsatisfactory performance
• Conviction of provider of a corrupt practice or fraudulent practice under the NEPB Act
• Failure by the provider to substantially perform its obligations under the contract
• Suspension of the provider by a professional body for professional misconduct
• Default by the provider of its obligations specified under the law.

3. Accreditation of an alternative procurement and disposal system:

The Board may at its own initiative or on application from an entity accredit an alternative public procurement or disposal system for an entity that may not able to comply with a procurement or disposal procedure required under NEPB Act.

4. Waivers and Deviation:

The Board does not grant waivers/deviations from procurement or disposal methods and procedures including variations. The Board only considers applications to deviate from the use of standard bidding documents, procedural forms or any other attendant documents which are not suitable for a procurement and disposal process.

5. Entry into the premises of Government entities:

When conducting procurement audits, compliance checks or investigations, an authorised officer of the Board may enter any premises of a Government Entity, at a reasonable time and inspect the premises to make any inquiries that may be necessary for the collection of information.

6. Directing an Entity to take corrective action:

Where there is persistent or serious breach of the NEPB Act, regulations or guidelines made under the Act, the Board may direct the concerned Government entity to take the necessary corrective action to set right the breach.

7. Reservation Schemes

NEPB in consultation with a competent authority and relevant stakeholders, is mandated to specify the public procurement contracts to be subject to a reservation scheme and to designate the particular sectors, within a specified geographical area, that are eligible to participate in the reservation scheme.