The Doing Business Forum 2025

The Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet, Ms. Lucy Nakyobe officiated at the 2nd Annual Doing Business Forum held at Golf Course, hotel in Kampala.

The Forum was held under the theme: “Enhanced Public Sector Efficiency for Private Sector Competitiveness”.

Nakyobe emphasized the need for efficiency in the public sector to drive competitiveness, adding that there must be productive partnership between the public sector and private sector.

To achieve the much-needed efficiency, Nakyobe said discipline, integrity, frugality, time management and empathy must be embraced, adding that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) must have service delivery standards, client charters and strategic plans aligned to the NDP IV by 30th December,2025.

Nakyobe said Government has put in place measures to improve Business Environment, however, the private sector continues to face real challenges including the licensing procedures which remain lengthy. She added that infrastructure approvals are fragmented, and access to serviced industrial parks or reliable utilities is often unpredictable.

She also said exporters continue to grapple with high compliance costs, excessive documentation, and delays at border points, adding that these bottlenecks increase the cost of doing business, erode competitiveness, and discourage both local and foreign investors.

“An efficient public sector is a necessity. It is the key to unlocking the potential of our entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and exporters. Efficiency must be measured not by promises, but by results, by faster service delivery, lower costs, and reduced red tape,” said the Head of Public Service, adding that when institutions deliver effectively, businesses can invest confidently, compete fairly, create jobs and pay taxes.

She put forward three guiding principles that should anchor Uganda’s reform agenda and these are: Efficiency which she said is non-negotiable, Public–Private Partnerships and Accountability.

The Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury (PSST), Ramathan Ggoobi said Uganda stands at a pivotal moment in its economic journey, guided by the National Development Plan IV and the Tenfold Growth Strategy.

He said Uganda aspires to transform into a middle-income, export-driven economy with a bold target to expand GDP tenfold to USD 500 billion by 2040.

"Our shared goal is simple and urgent: make the public sector work better so the private sector can create more jobs, add more value, and attract more investment," said Ggoobi.

He noted that under NDP IV’s Public Sector Transformation Programme, Government seeks to build an efficient and responsive service system and the targets include; raising transparency and accountability in service delivery from 70 to 90 percent, improving staffing levels from 55 to 85%, increasing local government fiscal sustainability from 34 to 50 percent, and ensuring that at least 80% of Ugandans from current 50% have access to efficient public services by 2030.

To address limited access to standards and certifications, the PSST said Government through Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has opened up regional offices in Gulu, Mbarara, and Mbale.

"Its budget has increased from Shs. 58.1 Bn in FY 2024/25 to Shs. 133.8 Bn this FY to allow increase in the staff numbers and available standards aligned to the region," said Ggoobi.

He also noted that plans are also underway to review the funding model to ensure that businesses can access services promptly once payments are made.

To address persistent challenges in procurement, the PSST said the e-Government Procurement System (e-GP), rolled out to 62 MDAs and 134 Local Governments, is reducing delays, improving transparency, and eliminating manual inefficiencies in public procurement.

He also said there are efforts by NITA-U to provide affordable and reliable data by expanding the broadband via the National backbone Infrastructure. “So far, 4,387 km of optic fiber have been laid across 56 districts, connecting over 1,800 sites. Plans for FY2026/27 include adding 1,000 sites and further promoting last-mile connectivity to ensure affordable internet for all,” said the PSST.

Ggoobi said efficiency is a shared responsibility between government and the private sector, adding that the Doing Business Forum serves as a platform for joint action and accountability, in addition to reflecting on the urgent actions of   reducing business costs by removing key bottlenecks and accelerating digitalization with seamless platforms.

Key takeaways from the Forum: Reforms are creating impact and achieving efficiency; Collaboration is Key for trust and accountability and; Sustained Dialogue is crucial is shaping policies that foster growth and sustainability.