Musasizi calls for stronger coordination to improve government budget execution

Finance Minister Henry Musasizi has called for stronger coordination among government planning, accounts, and procurement units to enhance budget execution, accountability, and service delivery.

Musasizi made the remarks while closing the annual meeting of Heads of Planning, Accounts and Procurement Units held at Speke Resort Munyonyo, where he emphasised the need for the three functions to work together to improve government planning, budgeting, implementation and reporting.

The Minister said Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy, which aims to transform the country into a USD 500 billion economy by 2040, requires disciplined budget execution, increased domestic revenue mobilisation, implementation of the presidential wealth creation agenda, prudent oil governance and strict adherence to the budget discipline and accountability charter.

He urged government agencies to move away from expenditure-driven budgeting and adopt a results-focused approach where performance is measured by the tangible value delivered to citizens.

“Planners, Accountants, and Procurement Officers must work as one team with integrity to support the delivery of ATMS and Enablers,” Musasizi said.

He further called for the professionalisation, standardisation, and regulation of planning and procurement functions, alongside stronger budget controls, supervision, and monitoring to ensure government resources achieve intended outcomes.

The Acting Director Budget, Hannington Ashaba, described Planning, Accounts, and Procurement as the “triad” and engine room of effective budget execution.

Ashaba called for realistic and evidence-based planning, timely and value-for-money procurement, financial discipline, improved cash-flow management, and timely payments to enhance government performance.

He urged the three units to break operational silos and align their activities with the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) and the Tenfold Growth Strategy.

Participants at the meeting identified several challenges affecting budget execution, including weak coordination, inadequate budgets, procurement delays, poor cash-flow management, irregular finance committee meetings, diversion of funds, incorrect asset classification and inadequate asset maintenance.

The meeting concluded with a call for integrated government planning that cascades from grassroots levels to Cabinet and Parliament, with departments working together to consolidate plans, strengthen alignment, and accelerate implementation of government programmes.