The World Bank, in partnership with Uganda’s Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, has intensified efforts to promote inclusiveness and safeguard against discrimination in public development projects through a specialized Inclusion and Non-Discrimination (IND) training programme for technical officers implementing the Public Investment Management PLUS (PIM PLUS) initiative.
The training, held on Tuesday, brought together Project Implementation Unit (PIU) technical officers from agencies participating in the flagship PIM PLUS programme, highlighting the growing importance of ensuring that public investments are designed and implemented in a manner that benefits all citizens fairly and equitably.
PIM PLUS is a key reform under Uganda’s Public Finance Management Reform Strategy and is aimed at strengthening public investment and asset management systems across government. The programme supports the implementation of the country's Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) and the Tenfold Growth Strategy by improving project preparation, appraisal, budgeting, execution and maintenance of public assets.
As Uganda continues to invest heavily in infrastructure and public service delivery, officials say there is a need to ensure that development projects are accessible to all segments of society, particularly vulnerable and underserved populations.
Addressing participants during the training, Gertrude Basiima, Acting Assistant Commissioner in the Projects Analysis and Public Investment Department at the Ministry of Finance, emphasized that inclusion and non-discrimination are fundamental principles that must guide all public investments.
“Inclusion is not merely a policy requirement by the World Bank, but it is a fundamental human rights principle in all operations. All projects must be inclusive. Every individual, regardless of gender, age, disability, ethnicity, religion, or socio-economic status, deserves equal opportunity and dignity in the share of project outcomes, goals and objectives,” Basiima said.
She noted that inclusion and non-discrimination are central to effective service delivery and sustainable development, urging implementing agencies to create safe and respectful environments where diversity is valued and vulnerable groups are protected.
The training also focused on strengthening safeguards within project implementation processes to ensure that communities affected by public investments have avenues through which they can raise concerns and seek redress.
Facilitators from the World Bank encouraged participants to actively disseminate information on inclusion and non-discrimination among frontline staff, contractors, consultants and project beneficiaries to promote wider awareness and compliance.
Particular emphasis was placed on strengthening Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRMs), which provide channels for communities to report concerns related to project implementation. Participants were urged to ensure that Grievance Redress Committees remain active, responsive and accessible throughout the project lifecycle.
The World Bank team further encouraged implementing agencies to integrate inclusion and non-discrimination provisions into project communications, contracts and Terms of Reference to enhance accountability and ensure that these principles are embedded across all project activities.
Uganda has in recent years adopted a number of policy frameworks aimed at promoting inclusive development and ensuring equitable access to public services.
These efforts are aligned with international human rights commitments and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the principle of leaving no one behind.
Officials say the training forms part of broader efforts to ensure that public investment projects deliver not only infrastructure and economic benefits but also contribute to social equity, human dignity and inclusive growth.
As implementation of PIM PLUS continues, government and development partners hope that integrating inclusion and non-discrimination principles into public investment planning and execution will help improve service delivery outcomes and ensure that development benefits reach all Ugandans, especially marginalized and vulnerable populations.