Through the Data publication project, the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative (CoST-International) is supporting its CoST Uganda Chapter in promoting infrastructure Data Publication using the global OC4IDS.
This effort kicked off this quarter and is being implemented by CoST Uganda’s Host organization- Africa Freedom of Information Centre(AFIC) in a partnership with Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA). The project aims to strengthening the publication of infrastructure project data through Uganda’s Government Procurement Portal (GPP).
With the theme “Reclaiming Uganda’s Pioneering Role in OC4IDS “the initiative bridges Uganda among the first countries in Africa to officially publish a full set of infrastructure project data using the Open Contracting for Infrastructure Data Standard (OC4IDS) format.
In 2022, CoST Uganda supported PPDA in upgrading the GPP system from OCDS to host an OC4IDS module. During its inaugural year, the platform disclosed 122 infrastructure projects, a figure that has since grown to 381 to-date. However, recently there has been witness of a decline in infrastructure-specific data disclosure, undermining Uganda’s early leadership in transparency.
Advantages of Infrastructure Procurement Data Publication
Transparent disclosure of infrastructure data builds trust, enhances accountability, and empowers citizens to participate in decision-making around public investments. With infrastructure representing a significant share of Uganda’s public spending, the need for accurate, timely, and accessible project data is a way to go….!
After a 2024 review by the Helpdesk at the CoST International Secretariat, the GPP data identified several challenges contributing to the decline in disclosure including staff turnover, limited refresher trainings, platform usability issues, incomplete standards and formal disclosure mandate gaps for infrastructure projects. This year, CoST honored to support Ugandas’ Data Publication Project. The project includes mapping, upgrade of the GPP system with the new sustainability modules of OC4IDS and conducting capacity building for procuring and disposing entities (PDE’s) to have the project at success. The sustainability modules;
- Institutional sustainability data points (policy coherence, Freedom of information, independent monitoring, disclosure of Anti-corruption, among others),
- Economical and financial data points (Lifecycle cost analysis, CBA, Asset life time, budgeting and maintenance indicators),
- Environmental and climate resilience data points (forecast of green gas emissions, decommissioning plans, climate disaster risk assessments and environmental impact indicators),
- Climate finance data points (cover climate transformation & carbon efficiency), social sustainability data points.
- Social sustainability data points (cover public inclusion, public consultations etc)
CoST Uganda’s Data publication project include the following activities,
- Strategic mapping and Upgrade of the Government Procurement Portal-GPP: Conducting a mapping exercise (where actors select their priority sustainability data points for upgrade) and system upgrade Incorporating missing OC4IDS data points, including sustainability modules and full lifecycle disclosure (from feasibility to operations and maintenance) and Enhancing platform usability with interactive dashboards, integrated indicators, improved accessibility and publishing quarterly performance reports to monitor compliance and progress.
- Capacity Building and Awareness: By Training of Trainers (ToTs) for PPDA staff to strengthen their supervisory and mentorship role and conducting regional user-centered trainings for local government entities across Mbale, Gulu, and Mbarara to uplift consistent and quality data publication. This shall strengthen institutional capacity within PPDA to oversee and sustain disclosure. And finally a formal disclosure mandate/Memo shall be issued by the Procurement institution, reinforcing government’s commitment to transparency in publishing infrastructure project data by all actors in the role.
Expected Outcomes for the Data publication project
- Restore Uganda’s pioneering role in infrastructure data transparency as a broad actor partnership
- Improve access to quality infrastructure data,
- Improve knowledge of the CoST New standard relevance,
- Increase awareness / use of data published through GPP while Institutionalizing citizen participation in public infrastructure through open data, consultations, and feedback.
Global Best Practices
When we integrate these global best practices and align with the evolving CoST standard, Our country Uganda reaffirms its position as a continental leader in infrastructure transparency. As Gilbert Sendugwa, the Executive Director, Africa Freedom of Information Centre noted,
“This initiative is about more than publishing data. It is about empowering Ugandans with access to information, building trust in public investments, and ensuring infrastructure delivers real value to communities”
Through government bodies such as Public Procurement and Disposal of public Assets Authority and other stakeholders such as Ministry of Finance, Policy and Economic Development across the country, this project marks a new chapter in Uganda’s journey towards transparent, accountable, and citizen-centered infrastructure delivery.
See,
“We do not stop at studies and recommendations. We actively support the government efforts to promote Transparency, and Accountability through our core features: Disclosure, Assurance (independent reviews), social accountability and multi stake holder engagements!”CoST Uganda”
Stay connected with our programs and upcoming events via our website, linked in, twitter x, newsletter and you-tube
