By Diana Kintu
The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development has officially launched the USD 200 million Public Investment Management (PIM) Plus Operation, a major reform initiative aimed at improving how the government plans, prepares and executes public investment projects. The World Bank–funded programme is expected to overhaul long-standing weaknesses in project design, monitoring and implementation, marking one of Uganda’s most significant public sector reform efforts in recent years.
During the launch, Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Dr Ramathan Ggoobi, described the new programme as a transformative shift toward efficiency, accountability and better value for money in government expenditure. He emphasised that unlike traditional financing arrangements, funding under PIM Plus will be released in phases based strictly on Uganda’s ability to meet specific Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) and Intermediate Results Indicators (IRIs).
Dr Ggoobi explained that the model represents a fundamental departure from past practices, noting, “Government institutions will earn resources not by spending, but by improving processes and institutions.” He said this approach ensures that progress is measured by tangible results rather than expenditure levels, ultimately leading to more reliable and sustainable development outcomes.
The PIM Plus Operation is structured as a Programme for Results (PforR), meaning it relies on national systems and disburses funds only when independently verified results are achieved. According to Dr Ggoobi, this results-based financing model reinforces accountability, strengthens institutional capacity and ensures that reforms translate into practical gains for Uganda’s public investment landscape.
The Ministry highlighted several persistent challenges that the programme seeks to address. These include inadequate project preparation, weak monitoring and execution, inconsistent maintenance of public infrastructure and climate-related losses estimated at over USD 140 million annually. Such weaknesses have historically led to delayed project delivery, cost overruns and reduced efficiency in the use of public resources.
Under the funding structure, USD 40 million will be channelled to the Project Preparation Facility at the National Planning Authority to improve the quality and readiness of public projects before implementation. The remaining USD 160 million will support investment projects aligned to the forthcoming National Development Plan IV and the Tenfold Growth Strategy — the government’s roadmap for accelerating national economic transformation.
Officials noted that the reforms introduced under PIM Plus will support critical national programmes, including the Automation of Tax Management Systems (ATMS) and other strategic enablers designed to boost economic competitiveness. Improved project preparation and execution, they said, will strengthen Uganda’s ability to deliver high-impact public infrastructure that stimulates growth and enhances service delivery.
In a statement, the World Bank congratulated Uganda on launching the initiative, describing it as a significant step toward improving the efficiency and quality of public investment. The Bank reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Uganda’s efforts to strengthen public investment management, noting that effective systems are essential for generating long-term growth and ensuring value for money in national development programmes.
The unveiling of the PIM Plus Operation marks a renewed push for institutional reform, better planning and improved outcomes across government. As Uganda moves toward the implementation phase, stakeholders say the programme positions the country to manage public resources more effectively and deliver development projects that have lasting, measurable impact on citizens and the broader economy.