Makerere University has started a six-unit short course in public-private partnerships.
The first cohort of the intensive year-long certificate course was passed out on December 13 at a ceremony at the college of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology.
Some 27 people from government entities and the private sector graduated received four certificates corresponding with four course units; namely, Feasibility Studies, Project Finance, Procurement and Agreements.
In her speech, the guest of honour Education and Sports minister Janet Museveni, represented by state minister for Works Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, praised public-private partnerships as better avenues for guaranteeing efficiency, and no wonder they are increasingly being preferred for financing infrastructure and public service by governments world over. She said it has been estimated that Uganda loses $300 million (about Shs 1 trillion) annually due to inefficiencies.
Ms Museveni challenged the graduands to ensure projects have broad stakeholder support, including political commitment and stability; be ready to up their marketing skills and publicise the projects to all stakeholders; check whether the legal and regulatory institutions and the fiscal and financial frameworks are supportive; and emphasise timelines, business sense discipline and achievement of value addition.
Uganda enacted the Public Private Partnership Act in 2015. Public sector participants came from Unra, UPDF, Naro, Nita-U, National Planning Authority, Soroti University and Kabale hospital. The private sector had lawyers, bankers and other professionals. Dr Kenneth Ssemwogerere, the course coordinator, later told The Observer two preliminary certificates – in Principle and Regulatory Framework, and Inception Procedure – had been presented at an earlier ceremony.