The Minister for the Presidency, Milly Babirye Babalanda, has called on government leaders and technical officials to prioritise the implementation of Presidential Strategic Guidelines and Directives, saying they are critical to achieving Uganda's development agenda.
Speaking while chairing a pre-APEX meeting at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel on Wednesday, Babalanda said the meeting was convened to evaluate the implementation of the 23 Strategic Guidelines and Directives issued by President Yoweri Museveni since June 2016 and reissued in July 2021 through Cabinet for execution by ministries, departments, and agencies.
“H.E. the President, as the chief executive of this country and the fountain of honour, sees far beyond what most of us can see. He strategically plans and guides the country's development trajectory,” she said.
“By issuing strategic directives, H.E. the President shares his vision for the country and anticipates impactful results that improve the economic well-being of the citizenry.”
Babalanda said leaders and technical government officials have a responsibility to prioritise the directives in their work plans.
“When directives are issued by H.E. the President, it is incumbent upon us as leaders and technical government officials to implement them by prioritising them in our work plans. Failure to do so is, in a way, failing the President's agenda for the country,” she said.
The minister expressed gratitude for the opportunity to continue serving as Minister for the Presidency and chairperson of the pre-APEX meetings in the new government.
She noted that the meeting was intended to gather members' views on the findings, results, and recommendations before reporting back to the President.
“We have called this meeting to solicit members' input into the general results, findings, and proposed recommendations as we prepare to report back to H.E. the President for the next course of action and the issuance of new directives to the Cabinet,” she said.
Referring to the government's theme, “Kisanja: No More Sleeping and No Corruption,” Babalanda said government would not tolerate institutional weaknesses that undermine national development efforts.
She acknowledged that projects such as the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) face challenges arising from developments in Kenya and other external factors but warned against actions that complicate implementation.
“I am aware that projects like the Standard Gauge Railway have a bearing on developments in Kenya and other external factors. However, the situation should not be worsened by project-affected persons re-entering land that has already been negotiated and acquired by the government for the right of way,” she said.
Babalanda also cited the establishment of Uganda Airlines as one of the directives that was successfully implemented.
“A directive such as establishing a national carrier was fulfilled through the creation of Uganda Airlines. However, that does not mean it should be undermined by unsustainable operational costs,” she said.
According to the end-line evaluation, implementation of the 23 Presidential Strategic Guidelines and Directives registered moderate progress but remained below the level required to achieve the intended structural transformation during the previous Cabinet term.