The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth, has committed to fast-tracking stalled World Bank-funded projects, declaring that lengthy government approval and procurement bottlenecks are actively derailing Uganda’s development agenda.
Speaking during a high-level meeting with World Bank Country Manager for Uganda, Dr. Francisca Ayodeji Akala, Speaker Oboth ordered immediate parliamentary intervention to resolve the delays, which include a procurement process that currently averages nearly 600 days.
The Speaker expressed deep frustration over prolonged project timelines, specifically pointing to the Electricity Access Scale-up Project (EASP). Despite running since the 2022/23 financial year, the project has failed to deliver power to its intended beneficiaries.
“Both parties are in this boardroom, and we agree. So why is it taking so long? It has become a blame game,” Speaker Oboth stated. “Parliament is open to dialogue. We look forward not to a stalemate, but to progress.”
To break the gridlock, the Speaker directed relevant parliamentary committees to engage both the World Bank and the Executive. He also announced an upcoming joint summit featuring:the Prime Minister,World Bank Group leadership and key Government implementation teams
Dr. Akala raised serious concerns regarding Uganda’s contract management and approval systems, noting that systemic delays heavily disrupt project implementation.
“Some of these things take long because there is a lengthy approval process,” Dr. Akala explained. “Procurement in Uganda takes close to 600 days.”
She reiterated that the World Bank Group—operating via the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)—is shifting its focus toward youth job creation, human capital, and infrastructure. However, these goals rely entirely on stronger, faster domestic institutions.
Reaffirming Parliament’s commitment to development partners, Speaker Oboth commended the World Bank for broadening MPs’ understanding of global financing and monetary policy. In a lighter moment, he urged the bank to maintain its flexibility and affordability, recalling how he used to nickname his most generous childhood friends “World Bank.”
The strategic meeting was attended by the leadership of the Budget, Finance, and Public Accounts (Central) committees, alongside the Clerk to Parliament and the Director of Finance.
