Sector ministries have warned that persistent underfunding is eroding service delivery across Uganda, raising fresh concerns about the government’s ability to meet its development targets.
The concerns emerged during the National Performance Review Conference on Uganda’s development agenda, convened by the Office of the Prime Minister at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
The meeting brought together ministers and permanent secretaries to present performance reports for the 2024/2025 financial year, highlighting progress made as well as deep-rooted structural challenges.
Officials from the water and environment sector, alongside their counterparts in local government, identified critical staffing shortages as a major barrier to effective implementation of programmes.
The Minister for Local Government, Raphael Magyezi, said many districts remain understaffed in key departments, forcing reliance on interim officers, a practice he warned could fuel inefficiency and corruption.
He called on government to prioritise recruitment and improve remuneration in the upcoming financial year, stressing that better pay for political leaders, including councillors, would enhance accountability and overall performance. Without adequate compensation, he cautioned, service delivery would continue to suffer.
In the water and environment sector, Permanent Secretary Alfred Okidi underscored the urgent need to expand enforcement capacity to address widespread encroachment on wetlands and forests.
He described environmental degradation as a persistent national challenge requiring immediate and sustained intervention.
The education sector also raised red flags, citing inadequate infrastructure and widening salary disparities among teachers.
State Minister for Higher Education, John Chrysostom Muyingo said uneven pay structures have dampened morale, particularly among arts and primary school teachers.
He noted that government is considering salary enhancements for these groups in the next financial year.
Minister for ICT & National Guidance, Chris Baryomunsi said efforts are underway to lower the cost of smart phones, with some devices already retailing at about Shs150,000.
The government’s goal, he added, is to make smart phones accessible to the majority of Ugandans as part of a broader digital inclusion strategy.
Closing the session, Minister for General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister Justine Kasule Lumumba said discussions were meant to assess Uganda’s advancement toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reviewing collaboration, while taking stock of the implementation of the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP).
