Global Perspectives on Corruption in Public Procurement: Unveiling an Integrated Systemic and Behavioral Mitigation Framework

Submitted: 29 July 2025
Accepted: 18 November 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.70139/rolacc.2025.2.2

Robert Agwot Komakech
Research Fellow, Institute Research & Innovation Centre, Uganda Management Institute, Kampala, Uganda
kagwot@gmail.com
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6139-0933

Muhiya Tshombe Lukamba
Professor of Public Administration, School of Government Studies, Northwest University, South Africa
MT.lukamba@nwu.ac.za
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4210-5225

Thekiso Molokwane
Associate Professor of Public Administration, School of Management, IT & Public Governance, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
MolokwaneT@ukzn.ac.za
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4210-5225

Alex Nduhura
Associate Professor Business & Public Management, Uganda School of Business and Management, Uganda Management Institute, Uganda
nduhuraa@gmail.com/anduhura@umi.ac.ug
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5023-6263

Thomas Ogoro Ombati
Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Business & Management Sciences, University of Nairobi, Kenya
thomasombati@uonbi.ac.ke
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7980-345X

ABSTRACT
Corruption in public procurement continues to undermine governance effectiveness, service delivery and public trust. This study aims to analyze procurement corruption using an integrated systemic and behavioral perspective that captures both institutional weaknesses and collective social dynamics. A scoping review of evidence across diverse geographic contexts is undertaken, applying Agency Theory and Collective Action Theory to assess existing anti-corruption approaches and their contextual limitations. The study finds that compliance- and sanction-focused agency models are inadequate for addressing the complex and socially embedded nature of procurement corruption. More sustainable outcomes emerge from integrated approaches that combine institutional reforms, behavioral change interventions, stakeholder engagement and digital transparency mechanisms. The findings provide actionable guidance for policymakers and procurement authorities on designing context-sensitive anti-corruption strategies that strengthen accountability, improve service delivery, and rebuild public trust, while fostering collective responsibility and ethical norms within procurement systems. The paper advances public procurement scholarship by integrating agency and collective action perspectives within a unified analytical framework.

Keywords
Corruption; public procurement; public procurement corruption; Collective Action Theory, Agency Theory

© 2025 Komakech, Lukamba, Molokwane, Nduhura, and Ombati, licensee LU Press. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution license CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Cite this article as: Komakech R. A., Lukamba M. T., Molokwane T., Nduhura A., and Ombati T. O. Global Perspectives on Corruption in Public Procurement: Unveiling an Integrated Systemic and Behavioral Mitigation Framework, Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Center Journal, 2025:2, https://doi.org/10.70139/rolacc.2025.2.2

To read the full article: Click Here