The Ugandan government has taken significant steps to enhance the effectiveness of public investment management. The Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, in collaboration with the Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence, organized a conference to discuss strategies for improving project execution.
The conference highlighted the importance of public investment in driving Uganda’s development and building essential infrastructure, human capital, and institutions. The Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Ramathan Ggoobi, emphasized the need for government investments to be worthwhile and contribute to national development.
“Government is taking seriously the PIM process,” said Ggoobi, adding that the Finance Ministry has developed a framework for tracking project implementation. He said the framework standardizes and provides strategic direction by facilitating a culture of accountability, transparency and continuous improvement during project execution.
“To implement this framework, the Office of the Head of Project Execution is to be created to use the framework in collaboration with other M&E players such as OPM, OP and responsible departments in the Ministry.”
The government has recognized the importance of the PIM process and has taken steps to improve its effectiveness. The Finance Ministry has developed a framework for tracking project implementation, standardizing procedures and facilitating accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.
To implement this framework, the Office of the Head of Project Execution will be created to collaborate with other relevant government agencies. Additionally, the government has provided seed financing to the Project Preparation Facility (PPF) under the National Planning Authority. The PPF will focus on creating a pipeline of bankable projects in strategic areas such as agriculture, tourism, mineral development, and science and technology.
Professor Glenn Jenkins of Queen’s University, Canada, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the importance of addressing project implementation challenges.
“Projects are not being completed on time. Time overruns and cost overruns,” said Prof. Jenkins, adding that there is need for staff training in project management and a legal framework to support the PIM system.
“There is need to develop extensive applied skills and have information available to carry out appraisals across a wide range of projects,” he said, adding that a modern PIM system is much more than an investment appraisal.
The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Professor Nawangwe, thanked the government for supporting the university’s efforts to remain a global institution. He mentioned the success of the Innovation Fund in incubating over 2500 innovations, with 300 having potential for commercialization.
The Ugandan government’s commitment to improving public investment management is a crucial step towards achieving sustainable development and improving the lives of its citizens.
