Aligning National Development Planning with effective public service delivery: Insights from NDPIV

A discussion with Dr Joyce Abaliwano, Senior Planner, Public Sector Management at the National Planning Authority.

Hosted at the Expert Led Sessions of the Office of the Prime Minister, Republic of Uganda, hosted by Mr. Onesmus Kansiime.

Uganda’s economic development can be understood through a sequence of distinct phases that reflect the country’s transformation over time. During the colonial period, the economy was largely characterised by subsistence agriculture and barter trade, with the introduction of cash crop production—driven primarily by colonial interests—marking a gradual shift towards a market-oriented system. The immediate post-independence era (1962–1970) was defined by a heavy dependence on the export of primary commodities, limited industrial development, and a narrow base of skilled labour, conditions that left the economy highly exposed to external shocks.

The subsequent period of economic and political instability (1971–1986) was marked by a significant contraction in production and productivity, as prolonged turmoil and mismanagement disrupted key sectors of the economy. From 1986 to 1996, Uganda entered a phase of recovery and transition, during which a series of reforms were implemented to stabilise the economy and restore growth. The period from 1997 to 2009 was guided by the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP), which focused on reducing poverty, improving public service delivery, and raising overall living standards. Since 2010, Uganda has pursued a phase of growth and socio-economic transformation aimed at enhancing competitiveness by addressing structural constraints and harnessing opportunities to transition the country towards a modern and prosperous economy. This phase has been underpinned by the implementation of three National Development Plans (NDPs), with a strong emphasis on strategic investments in infrastructure and human capital as foundations for sustained growth and transformation.

The National Development Plan 2025/26–2029/30 (NDP IV) represents the fourth in a series of six National Development Plans designed to accelerate Uganda’s socio-economic transformation. It is the first of three five-year NDPs intended to deliver a ten-fold expansion of the economy, to be realised through the doubling of economic output every five years.

To achieve meaningful impact, the Plan sets out targeted strategies to address implementation gaps and correct distortions that constrain the efficient utilisation of the factors of production. In recognition of a tightening fiscal space, the Plan emphasises the use of innovative financing mechanisms to bridge funding gaps, alongside enhanced private sector participation in implementation. NDP IV builds on the gains realised, challenges encountered, and lessons learned from the implementation of the previous three Plans.

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