The State Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development in charge of general duties, Henry Musasizi, has urged greater cost efficiency in government projects.
Speaking as the chief guest at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new offices of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) at Plot 42, Bukoto Street, Musasizi emphasised the crucial role accountants play in national development.
The new ICPAU office building, estimated to cost Shs 10 billion, will serve as a central hub for accountants and a symbol of their professional accomplishments.
Reflecting on the project, Musasizi pointed to its valuable lessons for managing government infrastructure initiatives, particularly in cost control.
He called on government engineers to revisit how unit costs are calculated for public works.
"We are struggling with unit costs in government projects. A road should not cost six billion, while a building costs 60 billion," Musasizi noted, stressing the need for more cost-effective approaches to public spending.
He also praised ICPAU for its commitment to advancing the accounting profession in Uganda and acknowledged their financial independence, congratulating the institute for internally raising the funds for the new project.
Musasizi further pledged continued government support for the initiative.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
Josephine Ossiya, President of ICPAU, shared that the groundbreaking ceremony marked the culmination of a 10-year plan aimed at expanding office space to accommodate the institute's growing membership and staff.
"As our membership and staff numbers grew, we recognized the need for more office space to better serve our members," Ossiya explained.
She added that ICPAU had carefully accumulated funds over the years to ensure the project could be executed without delays, highlighting the institute's strategic financial planning.
"We didn't want to start the project and then halt halfway. Now, with sufficient funds, we began the design process and secured the necessary approvals, which took about a year," Ossiya said.
She also stressed the importance of employing certified professionals in large projects, encouraging project managers to verify that engineers, architects, and builders are registered with their respective professional bodies.
"Sometimes, we think we are saving money by not using professionals, but in the end, the costs come back to bite you," Ossiya warned.
