Kamuli, Uganda: Kamuli Municipal Council has approved a Shs14.275 billion budget for the 2026/27 financial year, reflecting a 13.2 percent increase from the current Shs12.6 billion budget for FY2025/26.
Presenting the budget before council, outgoing Mayor Aziz Luwano revealed that the municipality remains heavily dependent on central government transfers for its operations, with most of the funds allocated to salaries and wages.
According to the approved estimates, central government grants will contribute Shs13.5 billion, representing 91 percent of the budget, while local revenue collections are projected at Shs1.09 billion, accounting for 7.6 percent. Other government transfers stand at Shs134.9 million.
Education received the largest allocation at Shs6.1 billion, followed by administration with Shs2.3 billion, health with Shs1.4 billion, and roads and engineering with Shs1.2 billion.
Community services and planning departments received Shs156 million and Shs140 million respectively.
“The municipal resource envelope for FY2026/27 totals Shs14.275 billion compared to this year’s Shs12.606 billion for both recurrent and development expenditure under procurement, recruitment, revenue enhancement, capital development and institutional strengthening plans, but unfortunately it depends heavily on central government transfers for operations,” Luwano said.
During the budget session, the outgoing mayor also announced his retirement from active politics, saying he intends to focus on his businesses, contracts and family.
Luwano used the occasion to advise his expected successor, Fred Balinango, to prioritise garbage collection and sanitation, which he described as the defining achievement of his leadership.
“I am quitting active politics of sacrifice, and my incoming mayor, you have a challenge of garbage collection which has been my flagship service. When you fail to collect it, they will throw it at your office. Make sacrifices and special budgetary allocations for this activity or else you will sink fast,” Luwano warned.
Luwano did not seek re-election as mayor after opting to contest for the Kamuli Municipality parliamentary seat, which he lost to Mastula Namatovu.
Meanwhile, Town Clerk Stanislaus Mangasa assured residents that the technical team would implement the budget with financial discipline and improved accountability.
“We shall focus on resource and local revenue mobilisation, continue with phased construction of a modern abattoir, administration office block, renovation of schools and construction of staff houses among our priority areas,” Mangasa said.
He added that improved service delivery would depend on close coordination between technical and political leaders, adherence to timelines and prudent financial management.
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