Dr.Ayub Mukisa: Why Uganda’s Development Partners Must Reduce Spending on Software Activities

What the report says

Watchdog Uganda published an opinion piece by Dr. Ayub Mukisa, identified as executive director of the Karamoja Anti-Corruption Coalition (KACC), arguing that development partners in Uganda should cut back on what he describes as “software” activities and spend more on practical interventions. The article says the argument was prompted by remarks from a government official in Nabilatuk District during a District Integrity Promotion Forum, where the official reportedly urged partners to reduce spending on workshops and other non-physical activities and invest in tangible work instead.

Mukisa’s piece says the concern is especially relevant in Karamoja and similar regions, where repeated trainings, meetings, awareness campaigns, baseline surveys and policy discussions may consume resources without producing lasting benefits. The article suggests that some participants attend such events mainly for allowances, while communities see little follow-up or improvement on the ground.

The op-ed does not reject capacity building altogether. Instead, it calls for training and institutional support to be tied to concrete outputs such as water systems, veterinary facilities, processing equipment and community funds. In the author’s view, development projects should leave behind durable assets and measurable livelihood gains rather than only reports and completed audits. The broader context is a familiar debate in aid and development work about balancing “soft” program activities with infrastructure and other direct investments.