The government has expressed concern over delays in the implementation of public projects, particularly those supported by external financing.
State Minister for Planning, Amos Lugoloobi, said some projects have dragged on for more than a decade due to inefficiency, limited capacity, and political bias among officials.
Speaking at the second Public Investment Management Conference held at Makerere University, Lugoloobi emphasized the government’s commitment to tackling these challenges through skills development and training for public servants.
He urged officials to embrace professionalism, transparency, and accountability to ensure timely project delivery.
“Minor challenges should not derail important projects. Laziness, political influence, and lack of commitment are costing the country. We must stop this and work together to advance the public investment agenda,” he said.
According to Lugoloobi, cost overruns, weak monitoring and evaluation, and inadequate prioritization continue to undermine public investment.
To address these issues, the Ministry of Finance is collaborating with Makerere University to establish a Public Management Centre of Excellence that will promote innovation and research in project management.
In his keynote address, Rwanda’s Finance Minister, Dr. Donald Kabaoneka, stressed the importance of strategic planning in public investments.
He advised governments to ensure that projects deliver returns and called on policymakers to design initiatives that are technically sound, politically feasible, and implementable.
The conference brought together policymakers, academics, and economists to discuss ways of improving efficiency and accountability in public investment.