The Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence at the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) has started a two-week training in Investment Appraisal and Risk Analysis. The trainees are drawn from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Works, Makerere University, Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Education among other MDAs. The training taking place in Jinja, was opened on February 21, 2022 by the Principal CoBAMS, Prof. Eria Hisali.
Prof. Hisali commended the PIM team for fostering knowledge transfer and also encouraged the participants to take keen interest in the course, saying the skills they will get during the duration of the training will help improve the way the country does public investment.
It is envisioned that the capacity building will ensure that projects that are financed can meet the expected outcomes, hence maximize their returns of these investments to the country.
He said CoBAMS was committed to rolling out capacity building with the intention of starting a Masters in Public Investment Management. He called on the trainees to participate in the intermediary level training so that they too can become trainers. “As we embark on developing capacity in PIM, we need to look at forming an umbrella body which will help self-regulate, set and manage standards,” Prof. Hisali said.
The Principal thanked the World Bank for funding the PIM project and the Cambridge Resources International and the Ministry of Finance for partnering with CoBAMS.
The Principal Investigator of the project, Prof. Edward Bbaale also thanked the World Bank and all other partners for trusting the Centre with the training needs of the country.
Ms Rachel K. Sebudde a Senior Economist with the World Bank commended the government for its effort in improving management of public investments.
“As World Bank, representing Development partners, we do commend the various actions government is undertaking to improve the way public investments are managed in the country,” Ms Sebudde said.
The government has in recent years increased the amount of resources it allocates to capital investments. Despite the increase, the country still faces challenges of the quality of the infrastructure.
“If these constrained are removed, the country would no doubt accelerate economic growth and improve quality of life,” Ms Sebudde said.
She warned that it will be difficult to maximize returns from oil and gas investments if the quality of projects is poor.
According to the World Bank study, quality issues arise from the poor design of projects, delays in implementation, cost escalations, time-overruns, contract disputes, abandonment of projects, substandard quality of some completed projects, and rapid depreciation of public capital stock.
The World Bank Officer advised that to make the public resources yield higher returns, and increase and sustain higher rates of economic growth, the government must aggressively improve its investment management capacity, so that projects are well selected, well prepared, transparently tendered and delivered on time and within budget. It then also needs to maintain its existing and new assets, she added.
She reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s development agenda. “As a Development Partner, we appreciate the commitment and zeal that the country continues to demonstrate in exploring alternative and more efficient models for development,” Ms Sebudde said.
According to Mr. Hannington Ashaba, a Commissioner in the Ministry of Finance, the government recognizes the need to improve public investment management and has been training its officers in this regard. A few were trained abroad but government sort to reduce the cost of training by establishing the Centre of Excellence for Public Investment Management at Makerere University. This he said will also allow for training of more public service officers.
Dr. Willy Kagarura, the Manager to the PIM Centre of Excellence said the University was committed to providing capacity building to the government. He applied to the World Bank to continue to support the Centre for at least 5 years as it strategizes on being self-sustaining and generating income.
The Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence
The centre was established following a study done by the World Bank. The diagnostic done in 2016 revealed that there was low return on investment. Some studies revealed that the country was losing 60% of the investments it made. To this end, the World Bank recommended the establishment of a PIM training centre. The centre offers capacity building in Public Investment management systems. The training offered by the Centre is at 3 levels.
Basic training: It was recommended that this training be massive. It targets people working on government projects. This involves identifying projects, concept writing, profile writing, feasibility studies and uploading the same on the Integrated Bank of projects (IBP)
Intermediary level: This brings in technics of appraising projects before they are selected to go into the public investment plan.
Advanced Level: Professional training- MSc and PhD.
The Centre got seed funding from the World Bank, having commissioned the study, which revealed the gaps.
The Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIMCoE), hosted by the College of Business and Management Sciences at Makerere University, successfully concluded the training of its 4th cohort of public officers on November 15, 2024. This capacity-building program focused on the User Acceptance Training on Guidelines for Clearance of Financial Implications, a critical process mandated by Section 76 of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), 2015.
Under the PFMA, every bill presented to Parliament must include a Certificate of Financial Implications (CFI) issued by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED). The preparation of the Statement of Financial Implications (SFI), which forms the basis for the CFI, is the responsibility of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). This statement provides detailed revenue and expenditure estimates and projected savings over a minimum of two years’ post-enactment.
Empowering MDAs with Essential Skills
The training sessions, which began last week and will continue into the following week, aim to equip MDAs with the skills required to prepare robust SFIs. These competencies are essential for MoFPED Budget Analysts to review and draft CFIs or Letters of Financial Clearance effectively.
The 4th cohort comprised officers from key institutions, including the Ministry of Lands, Ministry of Agriculture, National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), Uganda Land Commission, Ministry of Local Government, National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), and the Ministry of Kampala, among others.
A Step Toward Transparent and Accountable Governance
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Mr. Moses Sonko, Principal Economist at MoFPED, commended the initiative and acknowledged the value it brings to Uganda’s public policy and legislative processes. Representing the Permanent Secretary of MoFPED, Mr. Sonko highlighted the importance of the training in strengthening governance frameworks.
“This training was developed to equip us with tools and knowledge essential for our roles in ensuring that Uganda’s policy and legislative proposals are financially sound, transparent, and align with national priorities,” Mr. Sonko remarked. He encouraged participants to apply their newly acquired skills to enhance policy preparation and implementation.
He also emphasized the multi-dimensional nature of the training, which enables officers to identify the financial, social, environmental, and economic impacts of proposed bills and policies.
Participant Feedback
Participants expressed their enthusiasm and gratitude for the training. Mr. Davis Kwizera from the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB) shared his positive experience, stating: “This training has offered a wealth of knowledge and an in-depth understanding of policy processes. It will significantly enhance our ability to prepare relevant policy documents. If you’ve taken the courses on Financial and Risk Analysis as well as Investment Appraisal and Risk Analysis, this program completes the package.”
The new guidelines for the clearance of financial implications will officially take effect in July 2025. PIMCoE remains committed to building the capacity of public officers to ensure that Uganda’s legislative and policy frameworks are underpinned by sound financial and risk analyses, fostering a culture of accountability and sustainable development.
For more updates on PIMCoE programs and upcoming training sessions, visit PIMCoE’s official website.
In a pivotal workshop held at Makerere University on November 12, stakeholders, researchers, and policymakers gathered to discuss the progress and emerging issues in the implementation of Uganda’s Parish Development Model (PDM). This transformative model, conceptualized by Prof. Ezra Suruma, aims to tackle some of Uganda’s most pressing socio-economic challenges: poverty, unemployment, and limited access to essential services, particularly in healthcare and agriculture.
Prof. Suruma, the architect of PDM, underscored the crucial role of researchers in creating wealth-empowering strategies for Ugandans. “The PDM is designed to eradicate poverty, promote economic inclusion, improve service delivery, and modernize agriculture,” Prof. Suruma stated. He highlighted that the model not only provides a pathway for Uganda’s rural households to participate in the economy but also aims to address the underlying issues that leave many citizens unable to afford basic needs.
The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, commended Prof. Suruma’s visionary leadership and the significant impact PDM is expected to have on communities across Uganda. “The PDM stands as one of the largest government interventions aimed at eradicating poverty and uplifting communities,” he remarked. Prof. Nawangwe also emphasized Makerere University’s commitment to supporting PDM through the PDM Lab hosted by the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), which serves as a hub for real-time data analysis to guide the implementation of PDM activities across the country.
The PDM Lab at CoBAMS, led by Prof. Eria Hisali and funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is instrumental in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data that can shape PDM policies at the grassroots level. During the workshop, Dr. Suruma extended his appreciation to UNDP for their support and acknowledged the researchers for their efforts in generating valuable insights into the effectiveness of PDM.
Despite Uganda’s notable economic growth in recent years, poverty remains a persistent challenge, with a significant portion of the population struggling to meet basic needs. Unemployment rates, especially among youth, are high, limiting economic opportunities for the country’s largest demographic. Access to healthcare, particularly in rural areas, is another critical issue, with many Ugandans unable to afford or reach essential medical services. These challenges underscore the need for initiatives like the PDM that are designed to create sustainable economic opportunities, improve household incomes, and ensure equitable access to services.
“PDM seeks to empower households to create wealth, ultimately reducing dependence on subsistence farming and encouraging local economic development,” Prof. Suruma emphasized. He believes that the model’s holistic approach will foster greater self-sufficiency among Uganda’s communities by addressing poverty from multiple angles, including agricultural modernization, financial literacy, and service accessibility.
As the workshop concluded, participants expressed optimism about PDM’s potential to drive sustainable change. Prof. Nawangwe reiterated Makerere University’s dedication to supporting this national initiative, affirming that the PDM Lab will continue to play a key role in assessing and enhancing the model’s effectiveness.
The Parish Development Model offers a beacon of hope for millions of Ugandans striving for a better quality of life, aligning with Uganda’s broader aspirations for economic growth, social equity, and sustainable development.
On November 11, 2024 the School of Business held a research dissemination workshop led by Dr. Jude Thaddeo Mugarura, a lecturer and researcher whose study focused on “Managing the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Operating Environment for Sustainable Service Delivery in Uganda’s Tourism Sector.” The event also featured research by his student, Simon Peter Kyomuhendo, who presented findings on “Public Private Partnership Adoption, Local Content Utilization, and Value for Money in the Ugandan Health Sector.”
Both studies, which delve into the role of PPPs in two crucial sectors—tourism and health—aim to provide insights into how strategic partnerships between public and private entities can address pressing service delivery challenges in Uganda. Dr. Mugarura’s study in the tourism sector emphasized the importance of a stable operating environment for PPPs, highlighting the need for clear policies, regulatory support, and sustainable practices that allow both public and private stakeholders to thrive. His research suggests that a conducive PPP environment is essential for Uganda’s tourism sector to achieve sustainability, attract international visitors, and create job opportunities, while preserving the country’s cultural and natural heritage.
Kyomuhendo’s research, titled “Public Private Partnership Adoption, Local Content Utilization, and Value for Money in the Ugandan Health Sector,” explored how PPPs can improve value for money (VFM) in healthcare delivery by encouraging local content utilization. His findings revealed a positive correlation between PPP adoption and VFM in healthcare, suggesting that well-structured partnerships can enhance efficiency and service quality. However, he noted that while PPPs support infrastructure development and resource allocation, local content utilization does not always have a strong moderating effect on VFM, indicating potential areas for policy improvement to ensure meaningful local engagement.
Dean of the School of Business, Prof. Godfrey Akileng, lauded the researchers for their dedication to tackling critical issues in Uganda’s development sectors. “These studies bring much-needed evidence to the table, demonstrating the potential of PPPs to transform our tourism and health sectors,” Prof. Akileng remarked. He emphasized that such research is pivotal to Makerere University’s commitment to producing actionable knowledge that aligns with Uganda’s national development goals.
Prof. Akileng extended his gratitude to the Carnegie Corporation of New York for supporting these projects, acknowledging that their funding was instrumental in advancing impactful research. “The generosity of our donor has enabled us to conduct thorough research and share insights that will inform policy and guide sustainable development efforts in Uganda,” he added.
The workshop encouraged discussion among participants, including policymakers, private sector representatives, and university staff, on the importance of PPPs in creating a resilient service delivery model. Dr. Mugarura highlighted the need for continual assessment of the PPP framework to adapt to evolving economic and social demands. He recommended that the government prioritize regulatory improvements and capacity building for local firms to enhance their role in PPP projects.
The dissemination workshop concluded with a collective call for increased collaboration between the public and private sectors. Both researchers emphasized that strategic partnerships hold the key to addressing Uganda’s service delivery challenges and achieving sustainable growth in tourism and healthcare.