Should Parliament Approve Public-Private Partnerships in Uganda?An Analysis of the PPP Bill (202!" #ntroductionOver thelast four years, Ugandahasmovedtoinstitutethepolicyandlegal frameworktoprovide for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) as a tool for enhanced provision of public servicesand infrastructures. n !"#", $overnment approved the framework policy on PPP and thereaftertabledthePPP%ill (!"#!) for legislativediscussionandapproval. &hispaper analyses oneessential clause in the PPP %ill that underscore the notion of value for money in the provision ofpublic services and infrastructures and the e'tent of parliamentary oversight over the e'ecutivein regards to the PPP probable impact on the country(s fiscal and debt commitments over boththe medium and long terms.&he clause to have Parliament approve all PPPs is being contestedby the )'ecutive and responsible for the failure by the President to assent to the %ill on twooccasions. &heanalysisofthePPP %ill (!"#!)isconte'tuali*edwithinboththePPP policyframeworkaswell asthePublic+inance,anagement lawtoironout issuesofconflict ofinterest and role clarity between the -egislature and )'ecutive especially as regards to approvalof PPPs. &heanalysis iswindupbypositingpossiblepolicyrecommendations essential toensuring Parliamentary oversight and )'ecutive management of PPPs. 2" Bac$ground to PPPsPublic-Private Partnership is a public financing model that transfers the responsibility (whole orpartially) to develop and fund public services and infrastructures from government to a privatecompany for a specified period of time. .orld over, the PPP model is /driven by the need to fundinfrastructure pro0ects and1or the need for private sector innovation in the design andmanagement of public sector facilities and infrastructure pro0ects.(# n !""2, Uganda undertook astrategic decision to focus on the development of high value end energy and road infrastructurepro0ects, a decision that has strained the national budget forcing government to consider alternatefunding modalities such as PPPs. Under the PPP +ramework Policy, $overnment of Uganda lists3 models of PPPs including 4esign, %uild, +inance and Operate (4%+O)5 6oncession5 7ale and-ease %ack5 -ease5 and 8oint 9entures. Prior to the !"#" PPP +ramework Policy, Uganda undertook a series of PPPs including:;. &he Umeme !" year concession (!""< = !"! of U?.;t the time of agreement, Umeme was mandated tocollect revenues from all customers connected to the national electricity power grid, make aninvestment of a minimum of U7@ A" million, pay monthly lease fees to U)46- and returnall assets to U)46- at the end of the lease. %. &he Bift valley railway concession signed in !""2 between the governments of Uganda and?enya on one side and the Bift 9alley Bailways (B9B) on the other is intended to offer full1 6oncept and %ackground to Public Private Partnerships (PPP)1Private +inance nitiative (P+) by ;lshawi, !""C http511www.oecd.org1mena1uired.5