World Bank-Funded $200 Million Project Targets Better Public Investment Management in Uganda

Uganda is seeking to strengthen the planning, appraisal and implementation of public investment projects through a $200 million World Bank-funded programme aimed at improving the value of government spending.

The Public Investment Management PLUS (PIM PLUS) operation is being implemented under the country’s Public Finance Management strategy, with a focus on ensuring that public projects are properly assessed, financially viable and executed efficiently.

The PIM PLUS Secretariat held a Development Partners Coordination Meeting as part of a World Bank implementation mission that began earlier this week. The meeting brought together representatives from the World Bank, African Development Bank, International Monetary Fund and various government ministries, departments and agencies.

Acting Director of Budget Hannington Ashaba officiated at the entry meeting, where participants discussed the importance of collaboration in improving project execution and strengthening the contribution of public investments to Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy.

Acting Commissioner for Project Analysis and Public Investments Department Gertrude Basiima thanked development partners for their continued cooperation with the government and emphasised the need for rigorous project assessment.

She highlighted the importance of ensuring that proposed investments meet the required standards before public resources are committed.

Basiima described the Public Investment Management System (PIMS) as a quality-control framework designed to ensure that projects are viable, affordable and ready for implementation.

The system provides a structured process through which government projects are prepared, appraised, selected and monitored. It also helps assess value for money, identify implementation risks and generate evidence to inform future investment decisions.

Speaking at the meeting, World Bank Lead Governance Specialist Verena Fritz said engagement between the 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,” she said.

The discussions placed emphasis on the need for government institutions and development partners to work together to address challenges that can delay projects and undermine their intended economic benefits.

National Planning Authority Executive Director Dr Joseph Muvawala urged participants to treat the PIM PLUS operation as an opportunity to improve public investment outcomes, warning against blaming procedures for failures that could result from poor execution.

“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 challenged participants to demonstrate commitment to delivering quality work within the required timelines, stressing the responsibility of individuals and institutions in determining whether projects achieve their objectives.

The implementation mission comes as Uganda seeks to improve the effectiveness of public expenditure and ensure that government investments deliver measurable economic and social benefits.

Through stronger project appraisal, coordination and monitoring, PIM PLUS is intended to support better investment decisions and improve the execution of public projects, contributing to the country’s broader development ambitions.

Its success will depend not only on the systems established to guide public investment but also on the capacity and accountability of the institutions responsible for implementing them.