Parliament Commits to Fast-Tracking Stalled World Bank Projects

Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth has promised to fast-track crucial World Bank-funded initiatives that have experienced severe delays because of lengthy government approval mechanisms and procurement hurdles.

Speaking during a meeting with World Bank Country Manager Dr. Francisca Ayodeji Akala, the Speaker emphasized that these stalled projects are directly undermining Uganda’s broader national development goals. Oboth reaffirmed Parliament’s dedication to working closely with international development partners to champion the country’s priorities.

During the discussions, Oboth highlighted specific concerns regarding implementation sluggishness. He pointed to the Electricity Access Scale-up Project (EASP), which has faced prolonged setbacks since the 2022/23 financial period without delivering power to citizens. The Speaker directed parliamentary committees to actively engage with both the World Bank and relevant government ministries to dismantle these bottlenecks and end the cycle of delays.

Dr. Akala noted that the World Bank’s operations in Uganda span across concessional financing via the International Development Association, private sector support through the International Finance Corporation, and risk insurance provided by the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency. She highlighted that the bank’s core focus moving forward is generating sustainable employment opportunities for young people through strengthened institutions and infrastructure.

However, Dr. Akala pointed out that domestic procurement processes in Uganda can stretch up to nearly 600 days, significantly hindering project execution. Both leaders agreed on the urgent need for streamlined processes to ensure that vital development assistance translates into tangible benefits for the public.

Read more about this development on the Parliament of Uganda.