By Diana N. Kintu
The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development has launched the USD 200 million PIM Plus Operation, a major government reform program aimed at strengthening how Uganda plans, prepares, and executes public investments. The initiative, funded by the World Bank, is expected to redefine public investment management and address long-standing weaknesses in project design and implementation.
Speaking during the launch, the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Dr. Ramathan Ggoobi, described the program as a transformative step towards efficiency and accountability in government spending. He explained that the funding will be released progressively based on Uganda’s ability to meet specific Disbursement Linked Indicators and Intermediate Results Indicators. Dr. Ggoobi emphasized that under this approach, government institutions will “earn resources not by spending, but by improving processes and institutions,” a shift he said would lead to more reliable outcomes.
The PSST further noted that PIM Plus is structured as a Program for Results, meaning it relies on national systems and only disburses funds after verifiable achievements. He underscored that this results-based model strengthens accountability, builds institutional capacity, and ensures that reforms translate into real improvements for the country.
According to the Ministry, the program is designed to tackle persistent bottlenecks that have affected public investment management for years. These include gaps in project preparation, weak monitoring and execution, limited maintenance of public assets, and climate-related losses estimated to cost Uganda more than USD 140 million annually.
Under the allocation plan, USD 40 million will support the Project Preparation Facility under the National Planning Authority, while USD 160 million will finance investment projects aligned to the National Development Plan IV and the country’s Tenfold Growth agenda. These funds are expected to facilitate the implementation of key national programs such as the ATMS and other strategic enablers.
In a statement, the World Bank congratulated Uganda for reaching this milestone and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the country’s efforts to improve how public investment projects are designed and executed. The Bank emphasized that strengthening public investment management is essential to unlocking growth and ensuring value for money in national development.
The launch of PIM Plus marks a renewed push for efficiency and reform, positioning Uganda to better manage its resources and deliver impactful public projects in the years ahead.