Nabbanja calls for stronger performance as Uganda reviews devt agenda

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Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja on Wednesday (April 15) opened the National Performance Review Conference (NPRC), a high-level government forum aimed at assessing progress on Uganda’s development agenda.

The three-day conference, convened by the Office of the Prime Minister, is taking place at Speke Resort Munyonyo and has brought together senior government officials, development partners, civil society representatives, academia and private sector leaders.

Presiding over the opening ceremony on behalf of President Yoweri Museveni, Nabbanja said the government has, since 2023, deepened its focus on results-oriented leadership through strengthened national results frameworks and improved data systems to better track performance.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja gives her speech. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

She said the conference provides an opportunity for government to take stock of collective performance and assess progress across sectors and local governments.

“This conference is not merely a routine engagement; it is a strategic platform for honest reflection on where we are succeeding, where we are falling short, and what corrective action is required to improve performance,” Nabbanja said.

(Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

Permanent Secretaries attending the conference. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

(Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

While acknowledging resource constraints and implementation bottlenecks, she urged participants to candidly interrogate the challenges and agree on practical steps to accelerate service delivery.

Linking the conference to the ongoing leadership retreat in Kyankwanzi, Nabbanja said effective leadership must be anchored on discipline, patriotism and measurable results.

“As Leader of Government Business, I place great importance on ensuring that what is approved in policy and budget is effectively implemented on the ground. The insights from this conference will directly inform government decision-making, strengthen accountability across institutions, and guide our engagement with Parliament and development partners,” she said.

She added that the ultimate objective of the conference is to improve service delivery, create opportunities for citizens and ensure that no Ugandan is left behind.

“Our citizens expect results from government programmes, and it is our responsibility as leaders to ensure that public resources translate into tangible improvements in the lives of Ugandans,” Nabbanja said.

Nabbanja also highlighted Uganda’s growing regional profile, citing the country’s successful hosting of the 11th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development and progress on the Kampala Declaration.

Local Development Partners’ Group head Lisa Chesney, who is also the UK High Commissioner to Uganda, challenged Uganda to intensify its development efforts amid mounting pressures, including declining donor support.

She said the current pace of implementation is falling short of the development ambitions of many developing countries, including Uganda.

Chesney also drew attention to the approaching 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals, stressing that accelerated action is critical if the targets are to be met.

Minister for Water Sam Cheptoris. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

(Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

Long-term ambitions

The annual review conference is intended to strengthen coordination, promote accountability and ensure government programmes remain aligned with national development priorities.

The NPRC comes at a time when Uganda is pursuing its long-term ambition of transforming into a $500b economy by 2040 through the implementation of Uganda Vision 2040 and successive national development plans.

The review is particularly significant as government shifts focus to the Fourth National Development Plan, with emphasis on identifying service delivery gaps and ensuring public resources are used efficiently.

At the centre of the current agenda is the government’s Tenfold Growth Strategy, which seeks to expand Uganda’s economy from about $50b to $500b over the next 15 years.

This year’s conference places special emphasis on regional trade and value addition as key drivers of economic transformation.

President Yoweri Museveni is expected to officially close the conference on April 17, 2026.

Chris Baryomunsi, Minister for ICT and National Guidance. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

Minister of Energy and Mineral Development of Uganda, Ruth Nankabirwa (left), at the conference. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)