Implementers Frustrating Development in Uganda, Africa– Planners

Professionals in the strategic planning industry say the development of Uganda and Africa as a whole is being frustrated by the implementers of the national or continental plans.

There is at least one strategic plan for every country and regional economic bloc, as well as for the continent of Africa (Agenda 2063), but they are not being given the priority they deserve to realise the development outcomes expected, according to the strategists.

Joseph Muvawala, the Executive Director of, the National Planning Authority (NPA) says there are many strategic plans by the planning bodies, but they are never implemented by the responsible implementing agencies, including those that are responsible for boosting economic development.

Muvawala showed his frustration with regulatory agencies which he says frustrates investments, and in turn, the strategic plans of nations are defeated.

He was speaking at the regional conference on strategic leadership and innovation on the theme: Unlocking the Future of Africa through Collaborative and Innovative Strategic Initiatives, organized by the International Association of Strategy Professionals IASP in collaboration with the IASP-Uganda Chapter.

Muvawala points to the advantages that Africa has, including a large arable land, and a large young population, but that unless they are harnessed and planned for as is the case currently, the young people will become a problem to the nations.

The government’s chief planner thinks more should be invested in the education of young people, and education that gives them skills, so that even when the country exports, it will not be exporting unskilled labour, but technicians who can in turn copy and build on the foreign technology to build appropriate technology.

Instead, he says, Uganda is “copying and pasting” foreign technology and calling it innovation.

He also voiced his opposition towards the promotion of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), saying it was not drawn with the African socio-economic setup in mind and may, therefore, not achieve the intended aims.

According to Muvawala, continental trade will not be effective when there is no adequate interconnectivity, giving the example of trade between Uganda and Algeria, which requires the exports to go through France, yet France also has the same product it sells to Algeria.

According to him, the strategy should be for countries to trade with each other as neighbours.

Daniel Omara, the head of the IASP Uganda Chapter, Daniel Omara, agrees that oftentimes planners carry out their roles by drawing strategies, but the plans end up lying unimplemented by the responsible agencies.

He says that the international conference sitting in Kampala is an opportunity for Uganda because it comes at a time when the implementation of the National Development Plan is getting set for implementation.

According to Omara, sharing ideas with professionals that have come from other African countries would boost the efforts of the NPA as well as the implementers of the NDP, especially as the Plan is done in consideration of the available resources.

Bank of Uganda Deputy Governor Michael Atingi-Ego agreed that there is need for collaboration between the different organs so that strategic planning ably feeds into economic development through proper implementation of the strategies.

In a statement read for him by Guster Kayinja, BOU’s Acting Director of Risk and Strategic Management, the DG said it was important that government agencies drive economic development through strategic collaborations and innovations.

The IASP is the main global non-profit professional association to advance the field of strategy and support the people who practice it.

According to Monica Allen, the IASP Global Chairperson, it is “the global standards bearer for all things as relates to organizational transformation and strategy, supporting and connecting strategy professionals to engage in thought-leadership, share resources and participate in professional development opportunities.”

She says the event is also aimed at helping the professionals drive the development of their countries through innovative strategic plans and their implementation.

The event has brought together leaders from government, business and NGO sectors from Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria, among others, to explore how collaborative and innovative initiatives can drive strategic impact and address complex challenges.

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