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The minister in charge of general duties in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has pointed to understaffing and budget constraints as affecting service delivery in Uganda's northeastern region of Karamoja.

Justine Lumumba Kasule revealed this during her interface with the parliamentary committee on presidential affairs on Friday.

She spoke of an office struggling to meet the demands of Karamoja's development.

Highlighting the lack of adequate personnel, Lumumba also stated that critical positions within the OPM remain unfilled due to budgetary limitations.

This shortage, she told legislators, directly impacts the office's ability to effectively co-ordinate, monitor and evaluate and plan relief, disaster and preparedness and refugee management to replace the aging fleet.

The consequences: delays in project execution, inadequate follow-up on initiatives, and ultimately, a frustration of service delivery for the people of Karamoja.

Lumumba said besides staffing gaps, old vehicles for OPM political leaders and technical staff need to be replaced because it is very cost to service them.

She also spoke of an insufficient budget.

In the last financial year (2022/2023), the OPM received a total of sh243.30 billion (80 percent) of the revised budget of sh276.86 billion. The overall absorption was at 91 percent.

The office received additional funding of sh51.5 billion from the Contingency Fund, out of which sh40 billion was for procurement of relief food for Karamoja sub-region and other disaster-affected areas across the country.

Sh10 billion was for cash transfer to resettle disaster victims in Elgon sub-region and sh1.5 billion for backfilling of land in preparation for the construction of a humanitarian hub in Namanve.

In the current financial year (2023/24), the OPM is projected to experience a decrease in external financing.

During Friday's engagement, the committee members expressed concern about the long-standing neglect of Karamoja and the need for urgent action to address the region's challenges.

They pressed Lumumba to demand that this time efforts need to be placed towards ensuring the region receives the budgeted interventions.

Committee chairperson Jesca Ababiku (Adjumani Woman MP) urged prioritization of Karamoja issues, saying the region has faced "historical marginalization".

"We need to see a clear plan from the government to address these issues and ensure that Karamoja receives the attention and support it deserves. We even want to find a way of meeting with the President over these issues,” she said.

Karamoja affairs state minister Agnes Nandutu acknowledged the gravity of the situation and pledged to work with the committee and the relevant ministries to find solutions.

"We understand the urgency of the situation," she told the MPs.

"We are committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that the people of Karamoja receive the services and support they need to thrive. We will continue to advocate for increased resources and work tirelessly to improve service delivery in the region."

Meanwhile, Lumumba said there is need for additional funding of sh17 billion to enhance the coordination mechanisms, real time tracking and monitoring of both the central and local governments to make government more efficient and get results for better service delivery.

OPM seeks an extra sh4 billion to operationalize a web-based National Development Plan (NDP) III monitoring and evaluation system, and sh4 billion for coordination of NDP III implementation.

In addition, OPM needs extra funding of sh63.679 billion for the operationalization of the disaster risk management plan, among others.