Africa-Press – Uganda. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has outlined intensified government efforts to reduce regional disparities and promote inclusive growth across Uganda.
Speaking during the first Joint Regional Development Programme Annual Review,Nabbanja said the review “presents an opportunity to assess our progress towards achieving equitable growth and sustainable development across Uganda’s diverse regions.”
“It is also an important platform for us to strengthen collaboration, share lessons, reflect on challenges, and reaffirm our shared commitment to improving the quality of life for all Ugandans regardless of where they live in our country,”she said.
The Prime Minister noted that the Decentralisation Policy has enabled the Government to devolve decision-making power and resources to local governments.
“The allocation of 3.7% of the national budget to Regional Development has significantly improved service delivery in local governments,” she said.
Despite these gains, Nabbanja acknowledged that regional disparities remain, particularly in Karamoja, northern Uganda, and parts of eastern Uganda, citing unequal access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities.
She said, “One of the causes of poverty and regional disparities is the subsistence economy. Over the next five years, as outlined in the 2026-2031 NRM manifesto and NDP IV, the Government will continue to invest heavily in wealth creation programmes, such as PDM and Emyooga, to move the remaining 33% of the Ugandan households out of the subsistence economy into the money economy.”
Highlighting the Parish Development Model (PDM), Nabbanja said, “By 30th June 2025, a total of Shs 3.3 trillion had been transferred to 10,594 Parish SACCOs, reaching 2.63 million beneficiaries.
These beneficiaries have invested PDM funds in various enterprises that are boosting household incomes, enhancing food security, and creating employment opportunities in local governments.
In this financial year, the Government has provided an additional Shs 1.059 trillion for PDM.”
Nabbanja said regional development efforts under NDP IV are focused on “Sustainable Industrialisation for Inclusive Growth, Employment Creation, and Wealth Generation,” prioritising productivity enhancement, value addition, and strategic infrastructure, including roads, energy, water, and ICT. She added, “Importantly, the NDP IV focuses on four critical sectors Agro-Industrialisation, Tourism Development, Mineral Development (Including Oil and Gas), Science, Technology, and Innovation as key drivers of the Tenfold Growth Strategy.”
The Prime Minister emphasised that the Government is committed to “advancing the Regional Development Programme as a strategic approach to deepen decentralisation, minimise regional imbalances, and promote equitable growth across all regions,” adding that “by prioritising region specific needs, this Programme will empower local governments to develop and implement tailored Development Plans, enhance service delivery, increase accountability, and strengthen local resource utilisation.”
She also highlighted measures to foster Public-Private Partnerships, enhance youth and women’s economic empowerment, strengthen social protection for marginalised groups, and improve multi-sectoral coordination across agriculture, health, education, infrastructure, and environmental management.
Addressing climate concerns, Nabbanja said, “As you are aware, climate resilience remains a pressing concern, particularly for drought-prone areas like Karamoja and parts of Eastern Uganda. We must invest in adaptive agricultural technologies, water harvesting, and climate-smart infrastructure to safeguard livelihoods and build resilient communities.”
The Prime Minister concluded, “The Government remains committed to ensuring that the Regional Development Programme delivers tangible results and that the fruits of development reach every corner of Uganda so that no one is left behind. We are also committed to implementing the Salary Enhancement Plan for both political leaders and technical staff in a phased manner.”
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