National Planning Authority chief Joseph Muvawala says poor execution by government officials could undermine a $200 million public investment reform programme intended to improve how Uganda selects and delivers projects.
National Planning Authority Executive Director Dr Joseph Muvawala has warned government officials that poor execution could undermine a $200 million (about Shs740 billion) World Bank-funded programme designed to improve the planning and delivery of public investments.
Muvawala said officials responsible for implementing the Public Investment Management PLUS (PIM PLUS) project must take responsibility for results instead of blaming administrative procedures when projects fail.
“We are responsible for the failure and success of this project. We should stop accusing processes. It is people who kill projects, not the processes,” Muvawala said.
He was speaking at a development partners coordination meeting held during a World Bank implementation mission for PIM PLUS, a programme intended to strengthen how government projects are prepared, appraised, selected and implemented.
Muvawala challenged officials involved in the programme to prioritise timely delivery, quality work and accountability, saying its success would depend on how effectively they discharged their responsibilities.
The $200 million operation is part of Uganda’s public investment management reforms, which seek to improve the use of public resources by ensuring projects are properly assessed and aligned with national development priorities before funding is committed.
The implementation mission brings together representatives of the World Bank, African Development Bank, International Monetary Fund and government ministries, departments and agencies to review progress and coordinate support for the programme.
Acting Director of Budget Hannington Ashaba officiated at the meeting.
World Bank Lead Governance Specialist Verena Fritz said engagement between government and development partners was intended to ensure that project implementation processes function effectively.
“The Projects Analysis and Public Investments Department has a vital role to play in ensuring that the broad objectives of improving and achieving the country’s public investment goals are realised,” Fritz said.
The department analyses proposed public investments to help establish whether projects are viable, affordable and sufficiently prepared before government commits resources.
Gertrude Basiima, the acting commissioner for Project Analysis and Public Investments, said rigorous project analysis was essential to improving the quality of public spending.
The Public Investment Management System (PIMS) provides a framework for linking proposed projects to national development priorities, assessing value for money, managing implementation risks and monitoring results.
PIM PLUS is expected to strengthen this framework and improve the contribution of public investments to Uganda’s development ambitions, including the Tenfold Growth Strategy.
Weak project preparation, inadequate appraisal and poor implementation can undermine the value of public spending, leaving projects delayed, more expensive than planned or unable to deliver their intended benefits.
Muvawala’s warning therefore places responsibility on the officials tasked with implementing the reforms to translate the programme’s objectives into better project delivery.
The development partners’ meeting forms part of the implementation mission’s efforts to strengthen coordination between government institutions and external partners as Uganda seeks to improve public investment management.