Muvawala Warns Officials as Shs740bn World Bank Project Faces Delivery Test

What the report says

National Planning Authority Executive Director Dr Joseph Muvawala has cautioned Ugandan government officials that weak execution could derail a World Bank-funded public investment reform programme worth $200 million, or about Shs740 billion. According to Nile Post, he delivered the warning at a development partners coordination meeting held alongside a World Bank implementation mission for the Public Investment Management PLUS (PIM PLUS) project.

The programme is meant to improve how Uganda prepares, appraises, selects and implements public investments. Muvawala said officials should focus on results, accountability and timely delivery rather than blaming administrative procedures when projects run into problems. His remarks framed poor implementation as a people issue, not a systems issue, and placed responsibility on the agencies involved in carrying out the reforms.

The meeting brought together representatives from the World Bank, African Development Bank, International Monetary Fund and several government ministries and agencies. Acting Director of Budget Hannington Ashaba officiated, while World Bank Lead Governance Specialist Verena Fritz said the engagement was intended to help ensure the process works effectively. Gertrude Basiima, acting commissioner for Project Analysis and Public Investments, said thorough project analysis is needed to improve public spending.

More broadly, the report said PIM PLUS is designed to strengthen Uganda’s public investment management system by linking projects to national priorities, checking value for money and monitoring results. The initiative is tied to wider development goals, including the government’s Tenfold Growth Strategy.