Uganda's procurement process for World Bank-funded projects is taking an average of 539 business days, significantly exceeding the regional average of 251 days. This prolonged process has raised concerns about delays in translating development financing into essential public services. The country's Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Markson Oboth Oboth, has called for urgent reforms to accelerate project implementation.
The Speaker cited delays affecting projects in various sectors, including energy, roads, health, and education. Some communities have been waiting years for promised interventions, despite the country's pressing development needs. He questioned why loan-funded programmes take several years to move from approval to actual delivery. The Speaker met with the World Bank Country Director, Dr. Francisca Ayodeji Akala, to discuss the issue.
Dr. Akala attributed much of the delay to weaknesses within Uganda's project implementation agencies, particularly at the procurement and contract award stages. She revealed that bid evaluation alone takes about 287 business days, while contract signing requires approximately 68 days. In contrast, the World Bank's own review process takes an average of 6.9 business days in Uganda.
The World Bank's East Africa region has a significantly shorter procurement cycle, averaging 251 days. Dr. Akala acknowledged that the Bank also has room to improve its processes. She pointed to the Energy Access Scale-up Project, which is expected to close in June next year but has so far disbursed only 33 per cent of its funds.
The Country Director called for stronger parliamentary oversight of implementing ministries and better coordination between government agencies and development partners. She emphasized the need for improved implementation and utilisation of development financing. The Speaker pledged to convene a broader meeting involving the Prime Minister, the World Bank, the Ministry of Finance, and other key government ministries.
The meeting aims to identify implementation bottlenecks and agree on corrective measures. The Speaker also called for faster adoption of electronic government procurement, arguing that greater transparency and reduced human interference could shorten procurement timelines and strengthen accountability. This engagement puts renewed focus on Uganda's capacity to absorb and effectively utilise development financing.
Parliament is seeking to ensure that approved loans translate into completed infrastructure and improved public services. The country's ability to implement World Bank-funded projects efficiently will be crucial in addressing its development needs. The Speaker and the World Bank Country Director have agreed to work together to address the challenges and find solutions.
Key points
- Uganda takes an average of 539 business days to complete procurement for World Bank-funded projects.
- The country's procurement process is more than twice the regional average of 251 days.
- The delays are affecting projects in various sectors, including energy, roads, health, and education.
