UDC Official Calls for Stronger Regulatory Systems to Safeguard Uganda’s Key Sectors

KAMPALA, Uganda – A senior government liaison official has called for urgent reforms in Uganda’s regulatory and procurement systems, warning that persistent weaknesses in enforcement and oversight are threatening public health, food security, and the nation’s economic stability.

In a new report filed by Col (rtd) Dr. John Francis Ongia, Senior Liaison Officer at the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC), concerns are raised over governance gaps in healthcare, agriculture, and public procurement, sectors described as fundamental to national sovereignty.

Dr. Ongia highlights troubling inconsistencies, including persistent shortages of essential drugs in public health facilities despite irregularities in procurement systems, and the proliferation of counterfeit agrochemicals that have led to livestock deaths in districts such as Isingiro.

“These concerns point to broader structural weaknesses beyond individual misconduct,” the report states. “They signal deeper systemic issues within procurement and regulatory systems.”

The report also notes that even leadership within the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has raised alarms over counterfeit inputs in major distribution hubs.

From an economic perspective, Dr. Ongia warns that weak compliance with quality standards is undermining Uganda’s ambition to become a standards-driven, investment-friendly economy. He cites the early stages of the oil sector, where many local firms struggled to meet required standards, as a cautionary example.

Among the report’s nine key recommendations are the establishment of end-to-end traceability systems for pharmaceuticals and agro-inputs, stricter certification and licensing measures, upgrading laboratory and field inspection infrastructure, and addressing regulatory capture through stronger oversight and institutional transparency.

“Strengthening regulatory systems, enforcing standards, and promoting transparency will be essential in restoring public confidence and positioning Uganda as a credible, standards-driven economy,” Dr. Ongia writes.

The report concludes that safeguarding national interests in these critical sectors “is not optional — it is fundamental to the country’s long-term development and resilience.”

Col (rtd) Dr. Francis Ongia serves as Senior Liaison Officer at the Uganda Development Corporation. His report comes amid growing public debate over governance and accountability in strategic state institutions.