Overview:

Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary Ramathan Ggoobi has introduced strict spending controls and personal accountability measures as Uganda's 2026-27 budget climbs to 78.24 trillion shillings.

KAMPALA, Uganda — The Ugandan government has revised its proposed national budget for the 2026-27 financial year to 78.24 trillion shillings, marking an 8.85 trillion shilling increase from projections released just last month.

Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary Ramathan Ggoobi announced the updated figures in a Feb. 13 circular, attributing the change to higher expected inflows from domestic revenue, budget support and domestic borrowing. The initial Budget Framework Paper, approved by Parliament in January, had estimated spending at 69.39 trillion shillings.

The revised proposal is expected to be presented to the parliamentary budget committee next week.

Ggoobi said the expanded resources will be directed toward sectors deemed critical for economic growth, including agriculture, industry, services and digital innovation. However, he warned accounting officers that the new figures represent hard ceilings with no room for post-submission negotiations.

“You are required to exercise allocative efficiency to achieve maximum impact through efficient and strategic allocation of resources,” Ggoobi stated in the circular.

The 2026-27 budget marks the second year of the National Development Plan IV, a strategy aimed at multiplying the country’s economic growth tenfold. It is also the first budget cycle to implement the Charter for Fiscal Responsibility for the 2026-2031 period.

To ensure transparency, the ministry has introduced several new oversight measures:

  • Personal accountability: Accounting officers will be held responsible by Parliament for the mismanagement of public funds.
  • Hiring restrictions: No new recruitment may occur without written clearance from the Ministry of Public Service and confirmed funding.
  • ICT oversight: All digital spending and infrastructure upgrades must be cleared by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance to prevent duplication.
  • Governance controls: Governance-related agreements with development partners now require prior Cabinet approval.

The pattern of significant upward revisions has drawn criticism from some watchdogs. Julius Bakunda, executive director of the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group, questioned the accuracy of initial estimates that require such substantial adjustments within weeks of their release.

Conversely, Achia Remigio, deputy chairperson of the parliamentary budget committee, said the changes reflect necessary adjustments to accommodate items previously recommended by lawmakers.

Under the Public Finance Management Act, the final draft estimates must be submitted to Parliament by April 1.