KAMPALA, November 6, 2026 – Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth has pledged Parliament’s intervention to address bureaucratic bottlenecks delaying the implementation of World Bank-funded projects in Uganda, raising concerns over lengthy government approval and procurement processes that are slowing the delivery of critical development programmes.

Oboth made the commitment during a meeting with the World Bank Country Manager for Uganda, Dr. Francisca Ayodeji Akala, and her delegation at Parliament, where he called for closer coordination between the Bank, government ministries and Parliament to accelerate stalled projects.

The Speaker expressed concern that projects intended to support Uganda’s development agenda were being held back by administrative delays, despite the involvement of both the government and the development financier.

He cited Uganda’s procurement processes, which Akala said can take close to 600 days, as one of the major obstacles affecting project implementation.

“Some of these things take long because there is a lengthy approval process. Procurement in Uganda takes close to 600 days,” Akala said.

The delays, according to the World Bank official, affect the pace at which approved financing translates into actual development interventions, with procurement and contract management emerging as key areas requiring attention.

Oboth pointed to the Electricity Access Scale-up Project (EASP), which he said had been running since the 2022/23 financial year without electricity reaching its intended beneficiaries.

“Both parties are in this boardroom, and we agree. So why is it taking so long? It has become a blame game,” the Speaker remarked, questioning why projects continue to stall despite agreement between the Bank and the implementing authorities.

In response, Oboth directed the relevant parliamentary committees to engage with the World Bank and government officials to identify and resolve the outstanding bottlenecks.

He also announced plans to convene a meeting bringing together the Prime Minister, the World Bank Group and relevant government teams to establish a coordinated approach towards expediting delayed projects.

“As Parliament, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening engagement with development partners, including the World Bank, in advancing Uganda’s development priorities,” Oboth said.

The meeting brought together leaders of Parliament’s Budget Committee, Finance and Public Accounts (Central) committees, alongside the Director of Finance in Parliament and the Clerk to Parliament.

World Bank shifts focus to jobs and private sector

Dr. Akala reaffirmed the World Bank Group’s commitment to working with Uganda beyond its engagement with the executive, noting that the institution also works with Parliament, the private sector and ordinary citizens.

She emphasised that the Bank's contribution extends beyond financing to include technical knowledge, institutional engagement and private-sector support.

“The World Bank Group brings not just financing, but also knowledge and engagement with the private sector,” she said.

Akala explained that the World Bank Group operates through three principal institutions: the International Development Association (IDA), which provides concessional financing, grants and technical assistance; the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which offers investment and advisory support to the private sector; and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), which provides guarantees and political risk insurance.

She said the institution's support is increasingly directed towards employment creation, particularly for young people, through investments in infrastructure, human capital and stronger institutions.

“Our ambition, working together with Government, is to have more and better jobs, supported by stronger institutions, human capital and infrastructure,” Akala said.

Parliament seeks stronger development partnership

Beyond the concerns over project implementation, Oboth urged the World Bank to maintain accessible and affordable financing for Uganda, describing the institution as an important development partner.

He also called for increased engagement with the Office of the Prime Minister and Members of Parliament to improve understanding of the Bank's role in Uganda's development and strengthen oversight of funded programmes.

The meeting highlights a growing concern over the gap between development financing commitments and the actual delivery of projects on the ground.

While Uganda continues to rely on development partners to finance infrastructure and other priority interventions, prolonged approval procedures, procurement delays and contract management challenges risk undermining the intended impact of such investments.

Parliament's proposed intervention could provide an opportunity to strengthen oversight and bring together the different institutions responsible for project approval and implementation.

Oboth said Parliament remained open to dialogue with the World Bank and government, emphasising the need to move beyond disagreements towards tangible progress.

“We look forward not to a stalemate, but to progress,” he said.