Kyankwanzi, Uganda | Senior NRM veterans have warned that weak coordination among government institutions could derail Uganda’s ambitious plan to grow its economy tenfold to $500 billion (about Shs1.8 quadrillion) by 2040.
The caution was raised by Dr. John Francis Ongia, Chairperson of the NRM Veteran League for Northern Uganda, during a presentation at the National Leadership Institute Kyankwanzi where top party leaders are attending a retreat.
Ongia told the gathering that despite Uganda’s steady economic growth over the past four decades, persistent gaps in coordination and implementation are undermining the country’s ability to translate investments into tangible outcomes.
“Public investments are not translating into proportional results due to fragmented implementation and weak institutional linkages,” he said.
According to Ongia, Uganda’s economy has expanded significantly from about $3.9 billion in 1986 to over $50 billion in 2026, supported by improvements in infrastructure, energy, and digital connectivity.
However, he noted that this growth has not been matched by corresponding transformation in livelihoods, job creation, and productivity.
He attributed this mismatch to systemic inefficiencies, including duplication of projects, poor sequencing of programmes, and limited real-time data to guide decision-making.
Ongia said Uganda continues to grapple with long-standing structural distortions inherited from the colonial and post-independence periods, including reliance on raw commodity exports, regional imbalances, and low industrial capacity.
He warned that without addressing these underlying challenges, the country risks entrenching low-value economic activity and missing opportunities for large-scale industrialisation.
“Opportunities for competitiveness and export growth are being missed due to weak coordination and low productivity, especially in agriculture and services,” he said.
The NRM veteran leader stressed that achieving the 10-fold growth target will require a shift from government-led spending to private sector-driven expansion.
He said while government sets policy direction, sustainable growth depends on the private sector’s ability to invest, create jobs, and drive value addition.
Ongia called for deliberate efforts to reduce the cost of doing business, improve access to affordable finance, and strengthen public-private partnerships.
He also highlighted the role of non-state actors, including religious institutions, civil society, and cultural leaders, in shaping social norms, supporting service delivery, and building trust in government programmes.
Ongia urged government to prioritise reforms that enhance coordination, including better alignment of policies, improved data sharing, and stronger accountability mechanisms across ministries, departments, and agencies.
He pointed to the Apex Platform under the Office of the President as one of the key reforms aimed at improving oversight and coordination of public policy implementation.
The retreat at Kyankwanzi has brought together senior leaders of the ruling National Resistance Movement to reflect on governance, service delivery, and strategies for accelerating Uganda’s transition into a modern, industrialised economy.
Discussions are expected to inform policy direction as the government intensifies efforts to achieve inclusive growth and meet its long-term development targets.