The Minister of State for Finance, General Duties, Henry Musasizi, has challenged the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) to strengthen evidence-based research and policy analysis to support Uganda’s ambition of achieving a US$500 billion economy by 2040.
Musasizi made the remarks during a meeting with the EPRC Board and Management at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, where he emphasised the importance of research in guiding government decisions and shaping policies aimed at accelerating socio-economic transformation.
He said credible economic research provides policymakers with the necessary evidence to make informed decisions, particularly in advancing Uganda’s tenfold growth strategy and ensuring key sectors of the economy deliver the desired outcomes.
“Evidence-based research is critical for policymakers to make informed decisions on the socio-economic transformation of the country,” Musasizi said, adding that EPRC should focus on generating research that supports the growth of Uganda’s anchor sectors.
The minister said the Economic Policy Research Centre has a significant role to play in providing analysis that will help government achieve its development targets, including the expansion of the economy through strategic investments and policy interventions.
Established in 1993 by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in partnership with Makerere University, EPRC has grown into one of Uganda’s leading economic policy research institutions, providing analysis to inform national development programmes.
EPRC Executive Director Dr Sarah Ssewanyana said the institution remains committed to supporting evidence-informed policymaking and contributing to Uganda’s national development agenda.
She noted that EPRC’s work is aligned with the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) and the Tenfold Growth Strategy, with a focus on producing research that responds to national priorities.
Dr Ssewanyana added that the institution is also prioritising stakeholder engagement, increasing policy uptake, and digitising research dissemination and knowledge management to ensure that its findings reach relevant decision-makers.
The engagement comes as government continues efforts to strengthen economic planning and policy implementation in pursuit of long-term growth and transformation goals.