The potential of blockchain technology as a tool to eradicate corruption in public procurement governance in Uganda

Abstract

Corruption in Public Procurement is pervasive in Uganda. It leads to misallocation of resources, inefficiencies, and loss of public trust. While the state has made efforts to tackle this problem through legal and institutional reforms, their effectiveness has been limited by challenges such as lack of transparency and accountability. Although Blockchain is greatly associated with cryptocurrencies and Non Fungible Tokens(NFTs), the technology also has the potential to improve the advancement of public service delivery tremendously. Blockchain technology can provide a secure and tamperproof system for recording and verifying procurement data. Moreover, it enables the use of smart contracts, which eradicate the need for 'trust relationships' among officials in the industry. However, scholarship on the utility of Blockchain technology in Uganda remains limited, especially from a governance perspective. Also, it remains unclear how the state can effectively implement and integrate this technology into the existing public procurement framework. This dissertation aims to explore the potential use of Blockchain technology as a tool for eradicating corruption in Uganda's Public Procurement system. The study identifies the key challenges and opportunities for the technology's successful implementation.