Uganda risks delays to a $200 million World Bank-funded programme designed to strengthen how government plans and delivers public investments if officials fail to execute it properly, the National Planning Authority Executive Director Dr Joseph Muvawala has warned. Speaking at a development partners coordination meeting during a World Bank implementation mission, Muvawala said those responsible for the Public Investment Management PLUS (PIM PLUS) project must stop blaming administrative procedures when projects fail and instead take ownership of results.
The programme is part of Uganda's wider public investment management reforms, intended to improve how public resources are used by ensuring projects are properly assessed and aligned with national development priorities before funding is committed. Weak project preparation, inadequate appraisal and poor implementation can leave projects delayed, more expensive than planned or unable to deliver their intended benefits, according to the material provided.
World Bank Lead Governance Specialist Verena Fritz stressed that coordination between government and development partners was essential for ensuring project implementation processes work effectively. The Projects Analysis and Public Investments Department, which assesses whether proposed investments are viable and sufficiently prepared, plays a vital role in achieving the country's public investment goals, Fritz said.
The implementation mission brought together representatives of the World Bank, African Development Bank, International Monetary Fund and Ugandan government ministries, departments and agencies to review progress and coordinate support. Acting Commissioner for Project Analysis and Public Investments Gertrude Basiima said rigorous project analysis was essential to improving the quality of public spending.