Launch of the National Budget Month FY 2026/27

The Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury (PSST) Dr. Ramathan Ggoobi has launched the National Budget Month for FY 2026/27 at the Ministry of Finance in Kampala.

The PSST said this initiative provides a platform for targeted engagements aimed at communicating the Budget effectively and empowering stakeholders to monitor and oversee its implementation.

The theme of the budget for FY 2026/27 is: “Full Monetization of Uganda’s Economy through Commercial Agriculture, Industrialization, Expanding and Broadening Services, Digital Transformation and Market Access”.

Dr Ggoobi said the Ministry collaborates with civil society organizations, development partners and other Government institutions to popularize the approved budget and account to the citizens for the key achievements during the current financial year in line with the agreed priorities.

“I wish to sincerely appreciate our National Budget Month Partners for their continued cooperation and commitment to advancing transparency, accountability, and good governance within the budget process,” said the PSST.

He said Government is committed to sustaining the collaboration until it moves to top of the Open Budget Surveys league table in budget transparency and accountability within the region.

Uganda’s rating in Budget Transparency moved from 58% in 2021 to 59% in 2023, against a global average of 45%; and Budget Oversight moved from 59% in 2021 to 67%, against a global average of 52%.

However, public participation rating reduced from 19% in 2021 to 15% in 2023, against a global average of 14%.

“The 2025 Open Budget Survey is underway, and we are optimistic to attain improved ratings in public participation, citizen engagement, and demand for accountability,” said Dr. Ggoobi.

The Acting Director Budget, Hannington Ashaba in his remarks said the budget month launch is part of the budget processes that will go a long way in facilitating all stakeholders in knowing the budget, monitoring the budget and ensuring that the resources are utilised in line with the planned activities.

“I call upon all the stakeholders to embrace the budget month activities so that we jointly engage and demystify the National Budget to the citizens,” said Ashaba.

The Executive Director Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group, Julius Mukunda, applauded the resilience of the economy and called for prudent financial management, fiscal discipline, and realistic budget prioritization to achieve sustainable development.

The Executive Director SEATINI, Jane Nalunga said trade can be a powerful vehicle for transforming livelihoods and reducing poverty. She commended Government for increasing the budgetary allocation to Agro-Industrialisation from UGX 1.8 trillion in FY 2024/25 to UGX 2.2 trillion in FY 2026/27 for agricultural research, inputs, irrigation, extension services, agro processing and market access.

“To maximise the impact of this investment, it is important that these resources are strategically deployed to strengthen linkages between production, manufacturing, and trade” said Nalunga.