The Ministry of Finance has announced tighter measures to ensure government investments are timely, cost-effective, and result-oriented.
This follows growing concern over low returns from several public projects, prompting the ministry to revise its Development Committee (DC) Guidelines.
The revised guidelines were unveiled on Tuesday afternoon during a launch event at the ministry headquarters. The changes come as Uganda prepares to transition to the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), which aims to grow the economy tenfold from USD 50 billion in the 2022/23 financial year to USD 500 billion by 2040.
According to Hannington Ashaba, Director of Budget Planning at the Ministry of Finance, who represented Permanent Secretary Ramathan Ggoobi, many previous projects failed to deliver value for money. He emphasized the need for careful evaluation before approving new investments.
“We must ensure that public investments deliver high returns and support the national goal of economic transformation. There is a need to prioritize the proper operation and maintenance of public assets,” Ashaba said.
The ministry also pointed out that the country must bridge the public investment efficiency gap if it is to meet its ambitious growth targets. This includes ensuring that every shilling invested yields a strong multiplier effect in the economy.
The revised guidelines will strengthen project appraisal, enforce clearer timelines, and emphasize value-for-money assessments.
The Finance Ministry urged all government agencies to align with the new standards as Uganda positions itself for long-term, sustainable development.
