The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), in collaboration with the Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence at Makerere University, has commenced a two-week Integrated Regulatory Cost-Benefit Analysis (IRCBA) training in Jinja. The training, which runs from June 30 to July 11, brings together economists and policy analysts from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) across government.

The training was officially opened by Mr. Paul Mwanja, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Social Services at MoFPED, who represented the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury. He was joined by Prof. Edward Bbaale, Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences at Makerere University and head of the PIM Centre of Excellence.

In his remarks, Mr. Mwanja emphasized that the training marks a pivotal step in the operationalization of the Revised Guidelines for Financial Clearance (CFI), launched on June 20, 2025. “These guidelines are more than procedural. They are a critical instrument for ensuring that government policies and legislation are fiscally sound, inclusive, and developmentally aligned,” he said.

Prof. Bbaale echoed these sentiments, highlighting the strategic timing of the training. “This is the first opportunity for many participants to engage practically with the new guidelines. It is part of a long-term agenda to institutionalize a culture of evidence-based decision-making within government,” he noted.

The IRCBA training is structured to build technical capacity in appraising the fiscal, economic, distributional, and risk implications of public policy and legislation. Participants will be introduced to tools such as Net Present Value (NPV), Benefit-Cost Ratios, and Sensitivity Analysis to ensure that all policy proposals are well-justified and deliver value for money.

According to the Revised CFI Guidelines, all requests for financial clearance submitted to MoFPED from July 1, 2025, must now include comprehensive assessments aligned with Uganda’s national development agenda and medium-term expenditure frameworks. The guidelines aim to promote transparency, strengthen fiscal governance, and improve the quality of public expenditure.

“Through this partnership with the PIM Centre of Excellence, we are not only training individuals—we are building a critical mass of professionals capable of shaping sound public policies,” Mr. Mwanja stated.

The Centre of Excellence will continue to roll out similar trainings throughout the financial year, reinforcing MoFPED’s broader reform efforts under the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) and the 10-Fold Growth Strategy.

Participants were urged to fully immerse themselves in the training and emerge as champions of high-quality, evidence-based policymaking. “This is how we ensure that every shilling spent by government reflects our national priorities and brings meaningful impact to citizens,” Prof. Bbaale said.

The training reflects the Government of Uganda’s commitment to professionalizing public policy formulation and ensuring that regulatory and legislative proposals are not only visionary but also fiscally responsible and socially inclusive.