New Public Investment Policy to Drive Economic Transformation

The Ministry of Finance and aeocnokic Planning has launched the National Public Investment Management (NPIM) Policy, a strategic framework designed to ensure better planning, accountability, and efficiency in the use of government resources.

The launch comes at a critical juncture as the country embarks on the implementation of the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), which sets an ambitious target of growing Uganda’s economy from $50 billion in the financial year 2022/23 to $500 billion over the next 15 years.

Speaking at the launch in Kampala on Thursday, Finance minister Matia Kasaija emphasized that the NPIM Policy is a game-changer in how Uganda plans, manages, and monitors its public investments.

“It is a great honour for me to officially launch the National Public Investment Management Policy," he said.

"This launch is a big step forward in how Uganda plans, manages, and monitors public investments, and it comes at a very important time in our country’s development journey."

For years, Uganda has struggled to translate public investment into tangible improvements in people’s lives due to several challenges.

The new policy directly tackles key issues that have hindered progress, including Delays in land acquisition, limited technical skills in government agencies, Projects taking too long or going over budget and Poor maintenance of completed public facilities.

“These problems reduce the value of our investments and delay the benefits to our people. They also make it harder to create jobs, reduce poverty, and grow the economy,” said Kasaija.

Currently, about 39% of Ugandan households are still stuck in the subsistence economy, producing merely for survival rather than for income.

The policy aims to reverse this trend by ensuring that every shilling invested by the government delivers real benefits to the people in the form of jobs, services, and sustained economic growth.

The NPIM Policy will also guide all future government projects under strict standards of timeliness, cost control, and quality.

It prioritizes maintaining completed projects to ensure longevity and continued public benefit.

Uganda is also stepping up investments in large infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing regional connectivity.

These include cross-border projects aligned with the East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

To attract investors, the government is cutting red tape, reducing procedural inefficiencies, and lowering the cost of doing business.

The strategy targets high-potential sectors such as manufacturing, tourism, ICT, and services.

The success of the NPIM Policy, according to the minister for finance depends on collaboration.

Stakeholders across government ministries, departments and agencies, civil society, development partners, and the private sector are being called upon to rally behind the reforms.

“Only by working together can we achieve real and lasting development for all Ugandans,” Kasaija emphasized.