Uganda’s Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development has called on the National Planning Authority (NPA) to prioritise high-impact investments as the country moves to strengthen public investment management under the $200 million PIM PLUS operation.
The call was made during a courtesy visit by the PIM PLUS Secretariat to NPA as part of efforts to strengthen coordination and ensure the smooth implementation of the World Bank-funded operation.
PIM PLUS is a flagship reform under Uganda’s Public Finance Management (PFM) strategy, aimed at improving the planning, appraisal and management of public investments so that government resources generate greater economic and social returns.
The Finance Ministry delegation was led by Esther Ayebare, Acting Assistant Commissioner in the Project Analysis and Public Investments Department.
Ayebare commended NPA for its efforts to improve the quality of planning and public investment management, while urging the Authority to concentrate government resources on projects with the greatest potential impact.
“We are here to ensure that the PIM PLUS operation delivers on its core objectives. Our call to you as the National Planning Authority is that you focus on high-impact projects,” Ayebare said.
She said prioritising high-impact projects would help government achieve better value for money while contributing to improved infrastructure and public services.
Ayebare also urged NPA to comply with Development Committee requirements and ensure that the cost of feasibility studies remains affordable.
The emphasis reflects a broader concern within public investment management: projects that enter government pipelines without adequate appraisal can place pressure on limited public resources while delivering weaker returns.
NPA Executive Director Dr Joseph Muvawala welcomed the engagement, describing the continued interaction with the PIM PLUS team as important to the operation’s success.
He reaffirmed NPA’s commitment to ensuring that the programme achieves its intended objectives and disclosed that the Authority had held constructive discussions with the World Bank on implementation.
According to Muvawala, the engagements are expected to strengthen NPA’s efficiency in meeting its obligations under PIM PLUS.
Dr Winnie Nabiddo, NPA’s Senior Manager for Research and Development, briefed the meeting on the Authority’s progress in implementing the operation.
She said achieving the objectives of PIM PLUS remains in NPA’s institutional interest and reiterated the Authority’s focus on developing detailed physical plans that are resilient to climate-related risks.
The discussions highlight the importance of stronger project preparation and planning at a time when Uganda is seeking to expand infrastructure and accelerate economic transformation while managing fiscal constraints.
For PIM PLUS, the challenge will be to translate improved planning and appraisal into a pipeline of viable, high-impact projects capable of delivering measurable benefits to citizens and supporting Uganda’s long-term development goals.
