National Planning Authority was established by the NPA Act (15 of 2002) in accordance with Article 125 of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda. The Authority was established on backdrop of the need for:

Building the national capacity for visionary and long term planning. The Authority would establish a framework that enable the short and medium term national priorities to be derived from and guided by agreed strategic objectives, long term development goals and perspective vision aspirations.

Having in place an institution that will be responsible for ensuring a sustainable and balanced national development by integrating economic, social and political dimensions of development with spatial and environment aspects.

Creation of policy and institutional arrangements that will facilitate systematic integration of district plans into national development plans i.e. integrating decentralized and national development planning processes.

Establishment of a central forum for participatory development planning through sharing of ideas by different stakeholders and agreeing on courses of action. This would entail putting in place a consistent, efficient, co-ordinated and integrated framework and system of managing national planning for development and service delivery.

FUNCTIONS OF THE AUTHORITY:

(1) The primary function of the Authority is to produce comprehensive and integrated development plans for the country elaborated in terms of the perspective vision and the long term and medium term plans.

(2) In pursuance of its primary planning a study and publish 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;

(a) co-ordinate and harmonise development planning in the country;

(b) monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and impact of development pragrammes and the performance of the economy of Uganda;

(c) advise the President on policies and strategies for the development of Uganda;

(d) support local capacity development for national planning and in particular, to provide support and guidance to the national and local bodies responsible for the decentralised planning process;

(e) study and publish 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;

(f) liaise with the private sector and civil society in the evaluation of Government performance and identifying filling gaps in Government

policies and programmes;

(g) review high priority development issues and needs and make recommendations;

(h) ensure that all national plans are gender and disability sensitive; and

(i) design and implement programmes to develop planning capacity in local governments.

(3) In the performance of its functions, the Authority shall—

(a) study and analyse strategic economic and structural reform policies;

(b) make proposals for innovative programmes and policies taking into

consideration the resource potential and comparative advantage ofUganda and its different districts and the need for effective poverty eradication measures;

(c) monitor the performance of the decentralised system of development planning and finance and propose such institutional innovations as may be required for its improved operation;

(d) conduct in-depth evaluation of the impact and cost of selected development programmes; and

(e) perform such other functions relating to development planning as the President may direct.

(4) The Authority in performance of its duties under this Act may compel any public body or organisation to provide any information or do anything relevant to planning.

Status of Authority:

(1) The Authority shall be the national co-ordinating body of the decentralised planning system.

(2) The decentralised planning system shall be regulated by statutory instrument issued by the Minister.

(3) The Minister shall by statutory instrument provide for submission of development plans to the Authority.

(4) A district planning committee shall initiate and prepare district development plans in the manner prescribed by the Authority.

(5) A Ministry or sector shall prepare a plan, and shall submit it to the Authority whose duty shall be to harmonise all the plans from various Ministries or

sectors for the purpose of formulating a national plan.

(6) A plan formulated by the authority shall be submitted to the Minister who shall cause it to be submitted to Parliament for approval and adoption.

Government Of Uganda