Finance Minister Meets World Bank Vice President
Finance Minister Henry Musasizi met the World Bank Vice President (VP) for Eastern and Southern Africa Dr. Ndiamé Diop at the 2026 annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Bangkok Thailand.
The Minister thanked the World Bank for its continued support and contribution to Uganda’s growth and development in line with the Tenfold Growth Strategy.
Musasizi also thanked the VP for the support towards the conclusion of the 10-year World Bank Uganda country partnership framework which sets out how the Bank will support Uganda’s development ambitions.
“We look forward to further discussions on how the Bank’s financing and technical expertise can more effectively support Uganda’s development ambitions especially regarding private sector development and advancing the export agenda.
Discussions also focused on improving the performance of projects, mostly affected by unnecessary delays in procurement, acquisition of the right of way and starting projects which are not studied and ready for implementation. The meeting also discussed progress on Development Policy Operation (DPO) and the prior actions which are in advanced stages of conclusion.
“We remain committed to the agreed prior actions and would appreciate the Bank’s flexibility in ensuring that agreed actions are achievable within the stipulated timelines,” said the Minister.
On improving the performance of projects, the Minister said the reforms in procurement including electronic procurement will reduce the lead time, adding that going forward, no project will be accepted without going through the public investment management system (PIMS) process.
The Minister requested the Bank to commence discussions on potential projects and programmes under IDA22 including blended financing towards the construction of the 800MW Ayago hydro-power dam, Standard Gauge Railway (Kampala-Kasese corridor), Irrigation, Private Sector Development and support to Urban infrastructure development.
The Bank’s Vice President said delayed implementation of projects in health, education, water, energy and digital transformation denies timely delivery of services to the citizens.
“It is really for the population we are trying to serve. Uganda has a great vision and the programs are great. It’s not capacity but bureaucracy that is causing the delays,” said the VP.
He also expressed the willingness of the Bank to support the development of an economic zone along the standard gauge railway corridor.
Earlier, the Minister participated in the World Bank Africa Group 32nd Constituency meeting which focused on framing the jobs and economic transformation agenda, which is central to the World Bank Group engagement.
The 22-country member group also discussed how to convert growth into more and better jobs, with specific focus on the five priority sectors and these are: Infrastructure and energy, agribusiness, healthcare, tourism and value-added manufacturing.
Finance Minister Henry Musasizi was officially welcomed to the Africa Group one Constituency as a new Governor for the Republic of Uganda.
The Minister and his delegation including the PSST Dr. Ramathan Ggoobi and Governor Bank of Uganda, Michael Atingi-Ego also bid farewell to the outgoing Executive Director for Africa Group 1 Constituency Dr. Zarau Kibwe and welcomed the new Executive Director, Lonkhululeko Magagula.
