Zombo, Uganda: Zombo District Local Government has presented a draft budget of UGX 36.88 billion for the Financial Year 2026/27, with a strong focus on education, health, and human capital development.
The budget framework was tabled during a council sitting held on March 25, 2026, at the district headquarters, outlining key priorities aligned with national development goals.
Education received the largest allocation of UGX 15.98 billion, accounting for 43.3% of the total budget, followed by the health sector with UGX 7.04 billion (19.1%).
Administration has been allocated UGX 5.82 billion (15.8%), while the water sector will receive UGX 901 million (2.4%), with the remaining funds distributed across other departments.
The allocations align with the national theme of “Full Monetisation of the Economy through Commercial Agriculture, Industrialisation, Services Expansion, Digital Transformation and Market Access.”
The district expects to finance the budget through a mix of local and central government sources:
Locally raised revenue – UGX 1.71 billion (4.66%)
Discretionary government transfers – UGX 5.61 billion (15.21%)
Conditional government transfers – UGX 28.43 billion (77.09%)
Other government transfers – UGX 1.00 billion (2.72%)
External financing – UGX 120 million (0.32%)
Secretary for Finance, Planning and Administration Mustafa Ongom urged councillors to support the proposals. “I therefore call upon your commitment to fulfilling the aspirations and objectives articulated in this budget,” he noted.
LCV Chairperson James Oruna expressed confidence that the proposed budget will address critical development challenges, including infrastructure gaps and household livelihoods.
The framework also prioritises commercial agriculture, improved service delivery, and community empowerment through participatory approaches.
Council Speaker Hassan Ringtho commended councillors for their role in preparing the draft and acknowledged public participation, including learners from Zombo Lower Primary School who attended the session.
Resident District Commissioner Festus Ayikobua called on leaders to strengthen monitoring of government programmes to ensure efficient use of public resources. “There is need for proper utilisation of public resources to extend quality services to our population,” Ayikobua said.
District leaders say the budget is designed to address persistent challenges in education and health.
Zombo continues to face inadequate school infrastructure, high dropout rates estimated at 10%, early marriages, and teenage pregnancies. “The 43.3% allocation to education will help improve learning environments, reduce dropouts, and enhance academic performance,” Ongom noted.
Despite having nearly 17 health facilities, access to quality healthcare remains limited. Leaders say the 19.1% allocation to health will improve infrastructure, strengthen service delivery, and enhance maternal and child health outcomes.
The draft budget will undergo further scrutiny by sectoral committees ahead of final approval before the May 31, 2026 deadline, in line with the Public Finance Management Act. Once approved, officials say it will provide a roadmap for accelerated service delivery and inclusive development in the district.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
