PAC Demands Tangible Results from Government Projects

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has called on government officials to demonstrate the tangible benefits of development projects, rather than simply presenting lists of completed buildings and established services. Hon. Patrick Nsamba, Chairperson of the PAC (Central Government) Committee, stressed that accountability should focus on whether public funds achieved their intended results and delivered measurable outcomes.

Nsamba’s remarks came as the team behind the 10-year Competitiveness and Enterprise Development Project (CEDP) appeared before the committee. This World Bank-funded project, which ran from 2014 to 2024, aimed to support reforms in land administration, business registration, and the tourism sector. The project team reported significant expenditures, approximately US$202.3 million (Shs800 billion), and highlighted achievements such as the construction of 22 Ministry of Lands zonal offices and the digitization of business registration.

However, Nsamba questioned the sufficiency of these outputs as proof of success. He urged a shift towards evaluating projects based on pre-defined indicators and measuring the actual outcomes achieved. “We must be able to attribute certain outcomes out of this, other than talking about outputs at the end of the project,” he stated, using the example of tourism facilities to illustrate the need to show actual benefits to citizens and the economy.

The CEDP Project Manager, John Marie Kyewalabye, detailed reductions in business registration times and improvements in online services. The project also supported key tourism and training institutions, providing grants to small and medium enterprises. While the team attributed increases in non-tax revenue and business registrations to these interventions, the committee questioned the direct linkage, especially considering ongoing government funding to beneficiary institutions.

Concerns were also raised about the repayment of the loan, potential duplication of efforts with existing government ministries, and the methodology for attributing revenue generation to the project. Despite an independent assessment rating the CEDP as successful, the committee’s scrutiny underscored that successful implementation alone does not guarantee long-term impact.

Source: Parliament of Uganda