A comprehensive report from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development has revealed significant challenges plaguing Uganda’s externally funded projects.
Spanning sectors like agriculture, infrastructure, health, and education, the report highlights delays, funding shortfalls, and implementation constraints affecting critical development initiatives.
The report details issues across numerous projects, including the Uganda Digital Acceleration Project, Kampala City Roads Rehabilitation Project, and the National Oil Seeds Project.
A recurring theme is the slow progress due to bureaucratic hurdles and insufficient funding. For instance, the report notes that the Micro-Scale Irrigation Project’s performance was “poor” due to “delayed approval of final designs and prolonged procurement processes”.
This has left many projects behind schedule, with some, like the Integrated Water Management Project, requiring an estimated “12 more years to complete” according to the report.
Financial performance is another concern. The report indicates that many projects are underfunded, with the Kampala Flyover Construction Project facing “unresolved disputes and arbitration risks” that threaten further delays.
The Heart Institute Infrastructure Development Project reported a positive cost variance, but “less was spent compared to the value of works achieved”, the report notes, suggesting inefficiencies in resource allocation.
The report also highlights the Global Fund for HIV/TB and Malaria Project, which achieved significant outputs like distributing Artemether/Lumefantrine, but faced challenges in maintaining consistent funding.
Implementation constraints are widespread. The Atiak-Laropi Road Project, for example, has been hampered by “delayed commencement of Lot 2” and land acquisition issues.
Similarly, the report cites “human activities such as walking” as an unexpected constraint for the Northern Eastern Road Corridor Asset Management Project.
The Ministry of Finance recommends that the Ministry of Works and Transport “negotiate for additional financing” to address these setbacks.
Despite some successes, such as the completion of enclosures for the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre and the Kanapa Gravity Flow Scheme in Kumi District reaching 95% physical progress , the overall picture, according to the report, is one of struggle.
The report emphasizes the need for improved project management, with recommendations like the Ministry of Water and Environment “fast-tracking procurement and ensuring timely counterpart funding”.
“The project earned value was below the actual cost, which meant more funds were spent than the physical progress achieved,” the report states.
The report also highlights environmental and social considerations, such as the River Nyamwamba floods management in Kasese noting that “poor soil conditions” and “delayed clearance of goods” have slowed progress.
“The ministry of Water and Environment should strengthen the project management,” the report advises, emphasizing the need for better coordination and resource allocation.
The report, compiled from field findings and project documents, serves as a stark reminder of the hurdles facing Uganda’s development agenda.
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