Uganda’s Economic Schemes Need Better Planning

Jul 09, 2002

Much as the Reform Agenda wishes to encourage the Government to implement development programmes,

Your PlatformMuch as the Reform Agenda wishes to encourage the Government to implement development programmes, we are very concerned about the haphazard and uncoordinated manner in which the projects are being carried out, for example:l The sudden revival of the Co operative Movement after systematically vandalising an already established one, with worldwide infrastructure (CMB had offices in major cities round the world) - closing the coffee, cotton, lint and produce Marketing Boards, selling off UCB and closing of the Cooperative Bank.The country must set up this infrastructure all over again, at great cost to the tax-payer, if the ‘Cooperative movement revival’ effort is to succeed.l The AGOA initiative, which was negotiated at about the same time that the sale and closure of UCB and the Cooperative Banks, respectively, were being considered.Clearly, the AGOA initiative would require the financial support that could only be availed by the two banks!l The $580m Bujagali Dam project, which “must be built” by hook or crook, in order to increase energy supply to this country. Never mind that the country already has the Owen Falls Dam, whose capacity is not yet fully exploited; never mind that there are cheaper options to increase supply of electricity.Is supply of electricity top priority to the Ugandan peasant? What will they use to pay for it?Would they not be happier with simple, low cost irrigation technology or subsidised agriculture inputs and implements to increase their productivity first, so that they may supply AGOA?If the three proposals above were planned and handled by a central planning unit, would they not be much more consistent and cost effective? That is why the Reform Agenda Manifesto of 2001, on page 16, had promised to “Establish a National Planning Authority as required by the Constitution.”Beti Kamya,KampalaEnds

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