The Government of Uganda is optimistic that the country will attain the lower middle income status in the next five years if the new National Development Plan (NDP) is effectively implemented.

The new NDP which is to be launched by President Museveni aims at strengthening Uganda’s competitiveness for sustainable wealth, employment and inclusive growth. State Minister for Finance in charge of Planning David Bahati is to ensure efficient and effective delivery of the plan and to see to it that the accounting officers who are charged with implementing several government projects sign performance contracts.

Uganda, which is a low income country will have to raise its per capita income from $571.96 (2013) to  $1,026 – $4,035, according to the World Bank classification of defining MICs, for it to be considered for lower middle income status. It would be joining other African countries like Cameroon, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Zambia, Sudan, Lesotho, Senegal, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria and Ghana.

Bahati says the lower middle income status will be achieved by 2020 but collective responsibility is required.