Kampala gets $23m for public service reforms

By BERNARD BUSUULWA

Posted  Saturday, September 20  2008 at  14

The World Bank is to give a $23 million credit to implement major public service reforms — especially improved pay and pensions management, better records and archiving, and review of systems and processes.

According to the World Bank, the loan will be used under the Public Service Performance Enhancement Project (PS-PEP).

The financial support is to be provided by the International Development Association, the development funding arm of the World Bank. Its focus is on attaining effectiveness in the public service.

The money will also support development of a civil service college for provision of training and policy research facilities, besides targeting capacity building in areas such as agro processing that are critical for industrialisation and promotion of economic growth.

The project is part of the World Bank’s promotion of more transparent and accountable governance in Uganda.

The funding comes at a time when Uganda’s public service is said to be performing poorly.

“Uganda continues to face a challenge in trying to enhance performance in the public service, which is likely to worsen if not checked,” said Dr Ezra Suruma, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.

The funds will be used for strengthening the effectiveness of Uganda’s public service through improving pay and pensions management systems, which are vital in boosting morale and performance among civil servants.

Improvement of record keeping and archiving systems in the public service is also catered for under the project, which will enable the government to weed out ghost employees on its payroll alongside a review of performance.

Under the PS-PEP project, the government is expected to fund the development of a civil service college.

Through the project, civil servants’ professional capacity will be improved to ensure better performance.

Part of the project funds will be allocated to training personnel in strategic leadership and management skills meant for application in areas like food, oil, gas and agro processing.

The training will support Uganda’s poverty reduction strategy through improved linkages between strategic management and the budget process, through capacity enhancement opportunities that are directly linked to improved service delivery and by providing incentives to motivate and retain qualified staff and increase efficiency plus cost control.

The PS-PEP project has two components — an IDA component worth $15 million meant for supporting the Public Service Reform Programme and a second $8 million component devoted to the establishment of the civil service college.

However, the World Bank urged the government to improve on its engagement with parliament so as to guarantee the project’s success.