Sector ministries have raised concern over inadequate budget funding, warning that it is undermining service delivery across the country.
The concerns were raised during an ongoing three-day National Performance Review Conference on Uganda’s development agenda, organised by the Office of the Prime Minister at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
Ministers and permanent secretaries presented performance reports for the 2024/2025 financial year, outlining both achievements and persistent challenges.
Officials from the water and environment and local government sectors highlighted staffing gaps as a major obstacle to effective service delivery.
Raphael Magyezi, the minister for Local Government, said many districts lack staff in key offices. He warned that reliance on interim officers creates room for exploitation and corruption.
Magyezi urged the government to prioritise recruitment and salary enhancement in the next financial year. He said political leaders, including councillors, need better pay to improve accountability and performance.
“If these leaders are not paid reasonably, we shall not get the best services from them,” he said.
The permanent secretary in the ministry of Water and Environment, Alfred Okidi, said the country needs more enforcement staff to curb encroachment on wetlands and forests.
He described encroachment as a persistent national problem that requires urgent intervention.
The education sector also flagged challenges, particularly poor learning infrastructure and salary disparities among teachers.
Dr John Chrysostom Muyingo, the state minister for Higher Education, said salary gaps have affected morale in the sector. He noted that the government plans to enhance salaries for arts and primary school teachers in the next financial year.
In the ICT sector, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, the minister, said the government is working to make smartphones more affordable.
He said while some devices are already available at about Shs150,000, the target is to lower the cost further so that more Ugandans can access smartphones.
“We want at least every Ugandan to be able to afford a smartphone at the lowest possible cost,” he said.
Justine Kasule Lumumba, the minister for General Duties in the OPM, emphasised the importance of the conference in assessing government performance.
She said the meeting is reviewing progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and Uganda’s partnership with the United Nations.
Lumumba added that the conference is also taking stock of the implementation of the Fourth National Development Plan, which has so far run for six months.
