The Integrated Financial Management System (IFMIS) was launched in August 2014 to monitor how ministries, departments and agencies utilize funds on a real-time basis in a bid to improve budget implementation. As an electronic system, the automation of public procurement processes to seal the loopholes in the manual system through which state officers stole public funds.

With the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMIS),  government of Uganda is able to monitor their geographically dispersed local governments and administrative units.

With the implementation of this web-based system, Government of Uganda has gained real-time access to information about grants from different sources, increased efficiency, enhanced visibility of taxation requirements, quick and effective decision making, hassle free procurement process, improved budgeting and streamlined revenue management, compliance with reporting, and automated accounting processes.

IFMS Implementation Strategy

The IFMS has been implemented in a phased manner to ensure success and to provide GOU with a process of effectively and efficiently managing the transition from the current state to the future desired state. Some of the key Principles applied were:

i.              Central Acquisition of the system adopted

ii.             Central Management of the system agreed on

iii.            Decentralised ownership of data

iv.           A Turnkey Concept was adopted

Pilot implementation was conducted in 6 ministries and 4 local governments between February 2003 and October 2004. Rollout implementation has since progressed to another 12 Ministries and 6 Local Governments and will conclude December 2006.

In the Pilot and on-going Rollout implementation phases, the IFMS has focused on key Expenditure Management Systems that include the:

i.              Accounting and Reporting (General Ledger),

ii.             Budgeting, Purchasing and Commitment Accounting,

iii.            Payments,

iv.           Cash Management and Revenue Receipting/Accounts Receivable.

v.            Purchasing

vi.           Public Sector Budgeting including Activity Based Costing and OFA

The Fixed Asset Management, Inventory Control and Debt Management modules will be implemented at a later stage. Government recognises the need for increased efforts in revenue collection activities for Local Governments. Plans for the acquisition of a Local Government Revenue Module (LGRM) are under review.

IFMS Governance Structures

Benefits of the IFMS Documented by Users at a Review Workshop in June 2005

  1.     Faster operations
  2.     Increased level of transparency
  3.     Harmonized Chart of Accounts
  4.     Timely, relevant and accurate info
  5.     Effective Budgetary and commitment control
  6.     Reduction in number of bank accounts
  7.     Reduction in amount of paper work
  8.     Improved Information security
  9.     Timely and easy access to information
  10.     Movement and tracking of documents for approval
  11.     Ease of Monitoring and reporting
  12.     Training and skills enhancement for staff
REAP Communication Team