Donors classify government performance as ‘satisfactory’
PM Mbabazi (R) with some of the development partners during a joint meeting at Kampala Serena Hotel on Tuesday. PHOTO BY PMPU
What you need to know:
Assessment. The donors acknowledged Uganda’s contribution to peace and stability in the region.
Kampala.
Development partners under the Joint Budget Support Framework yesterday rated the government performance during the fiscal year 2012/13 as “sufficiently satisfactory”, paving way for future funding to the tune of Shs103.5b.
This was announced at a joint Policy Coordination Committee meeting yesterday between the government and donors. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi and the two co-chairs of the JBSF, Danish Ambassador, Dan E. Frederiksen, and World Bank Country Manager, represented at the occasion by the Senior Country Economist, Dr Jean-Pascal Nganou.
A statement by the Office of the Prime Minister indicated that the assessment would enable the development partners to take action with regards to indicative commitments for future funding to the tune of Shs103.5 billion to help co-finance reforms in the country.
“The government welcomes the positive assessment by the Joint Budget Support Development Partners who acknowledged our notable achievements including Uganda’s key role in contributing to peace and stability in the region,” Mr Mbabazi said.
Some of the government achievements highlighted by the Prime Minister are the continued progress in parliamentary oversight, safeguarding freedom from torture, and increasing disposal rates in the justice system; the improvement in budget transparency, spending controls, and cash management.
The Prime Minister told donors that macroeconomic stability had contributed to a recovery of GDP growth to 5.8 per cent from a low rate of 3.4 per cent in FY 2011/12. He also highlighted the “substantial progress” in the implementation of the Public Finance Management (PFM) Strategy, including the rolling out of the integrated budgeting, planning, and accounting systems.
“Government will remain committed to the dialogue with the Joint Budget Support Development Partners. The concerns and issues agreed upon at this dialogue will also inform the prioritisation in the ongoing development of the second National Development Plan (NDP II). We shall continue to work together to strengthen our partnership,” Mr Mbabazi said.
Speaking on behalf of the donors, Ambassador Frederiksen acknowledged Uganda’s key role in contributing to peace and stability in the region, as well as continued progress vis-à-vis parliamentary oversight, and safeguarding freedom from torture. The ambassador congratulated Uganda on the return of macroeconomic stability, which contributed to a recovery of GDP growth to 5.8 per cent from a low rate of 3.4 per cent in FY 2011/12 and stated:
“We note good progress in the implementation of the Public Finance Management strategy, although enforcement of internal control procedures still has room for improvement and the Public Finance Bill is pending Parliament’s approval, “he said.
