Urging that all national plans should be gender and disability sensitive, the Principal Judge of Uganda, Hon. Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija on Friday inaugurated and presided over the swearing in ceremony of the new board of directors (BoD) members for National Planning Authority (NPA).
The ceremony took place at the high court in Kampala, where the BoD chairperson Prof. Pamela K. Mbabazi emphasized on togetherness, as the foremost method they can utilize transform NPA into a center of excellence in planning, setting the standard for strategic development initiatives and policy formulation in the country.
‘’I envision us proactively working with our Minister to further elevate the work of the National Planning Authority. Uganda is faced with numerous challenges but we also are blessed with great opportunities. As we embark on this new term, I believe it is crucial for us to step up our efforts and take on more defined oversight responsibilities to ensure that we effectively deliver on our shared goals and objectives. To achieve this, I am committed to working closely with all of you, my Board colleagues, to assign each board member a specific oversight role that aligns with our mandate and the key objectives of NDP 4 as you well reminded us all today’’, said Mbabazi.
Mbabazi, who asked the members to embark on this new chapter with enthusiasm and determination, said it is crucial for them to step up their efforts and take on more defined oversight responsibilities to ensure that they effectively deliver on their shared goals and objectives.
‘’’To achieve this, I am committed to working closely with all of you, my Board colleagues, to assign each board member a specific oversight role that aligns with our mandate and the key objectives of NDP 4 as you well reminded us all today. As we embark on this new term, I want to welcome you all to our 2nd term and congratulate Hon Mukitale Stephen who is joining us fresh for his first term’’, added Mbabazi.
Besides Prof. Pamela K. Mbabazi , others include ; Dr Ivan Lule- Deputy Chairperson, Hon Lydia Wanyoto- Member, Prof Enos Kiremire- Member and Hon. Stephen Mukitale Birahwa Adyeeri-Member.
The Principal Judge of Uganda, Hon. Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija urged the board to be mindful for the next five years as they steer NPA to ensure; production of comprehensive and integrated development plans for the country; planning a study and publishing independent assessments of key economic and social policy issues and options so as to increase public understanding and participation in the economic and social policy debate; Liaising with private sector and civil society in the evaluation of government performance among others.
‘’Ensure that you review high priority development issues and needs and make recommendations; Ensure that all national plans are gender and disability sensitive ; and also designing and implementing programmes to develop planning capacity in local governments’’, said Dr.Zeija.
The National Planning Authority (NPA) is a semi-autonomous national development planning organization in Uganda and is owned by the government of Uganda.
Headquartered at Planning House on Nakasero Hill, in Uganda’s capital city of Kampala, NPA was created by the Ugandan Parliament in 2002 to produce comprehensive economic development plans for the country. NPA is also mandated to coordinate development planning in the entire country, and to advise the executive branch on the best policies and strategies for the development of the country.
The agency is charged with the economic evaluation of public projects and programs, in collaboration with civil society and the private sector. It is also responsible for the development of local expertise in development planning nationally, and at district level. One of the immediate planning goals is Uganda’s attainment of middle-income status, with an annual per capita income of US$1,036 or higher.