Government officials in the public sector have called for stronger discipline, integrity, and efficiency across government institutions to enhance competitiveness and service delivery.
The Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet, Lucy Nakyobe, mentioned that the public sector must become a model of effectiveness if Uganda is to attract investment and spur sustainable economic growth.
According to Nakyobe, productive collaboration between the public and private sectors remains key to improving the country’s business environment.
“To achieve the much needed efficiency, we must embrace discipline, integrity, frugality, time management, and empathy,” she said.
Nakyobe made these remarks while officiating of the 2nd Annual Doing Business Forum at Golf Course Hotel in Kampala on 6th November, 2025.
She directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to align their service delivery standards, client charters, and strategic plans with the upcoming National Development Plan IV (NDP IV) by 30th December, 2025, warning that non-compliance would affect the performance evaluations of Permanent Secretaries.
Delivering his remarks, Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury (PSST), Ggoobi Ramathan, said Uganda is at a pivotal point in its economic transformation, guided by NDP IV and the Tenfold Growth Strategy.
Ggoobi emphasized Uganda’s ambition to become a middle-income, export-driven economy, with a bold target to expand Gross Domestic Product (GDP) tenfold to USD 500 billion by 2040.
“Our shared goal is simple and urgent: make the public sector work better so the private sector can create more jobs, add more value, and attract more investment,” he stated.
Under NDP IV’s Public Sector Transformation Programme, Ggoobi outlined key targets and these include; increasing transparency and accountability in service delivery from 70% to 90%, raising staffing levels from 55% to 85%, boosting local government fiscal sustainability from 34% to 50%, and expanding access to efficient public services to at least 80% of Ugandans, up from the current 50%, by 2030.
To improve access to standards and certifications, Ggoobi revealed that the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has opened regional offices in Gulu, Mbarara, and Mbale, supported by a budget increase from UGX 58.1 billion in FY 2024/25 to UGX 133.8 billion in FY 2025/26, enabling more staffing and regional expansion.
He further highlighted that the government is reviewing its funding model to ensure businesses receive timely services once payments are made.
The e-Government Procurement System (e-GP), now rolled out to 62 MDAs and 134 Local Governments, is reducing delays, enhancing transparency, and eliminating inefficiencies in public procurement.
Additionally, the National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U) is working to provide affordable and reliable internet through expanded broadband infrastructure, further supporting business growth and digital services.
The Doing Business Forum 2025, now in its second edition, brings together government officials, private sector leaders, and development partners to discuss practical measures for improving Uganda’s business environment and accelerating the implementation of NDP IV.
