Kiryandongo, Uganda: Kiryandongo District Council has approved a Shs48.3 billion budget for the 2026/2027 financial year, with leaders pledging to accelerate industrialisation, infrastructure development and improved service delivery across the district.
District authorities said the approved budget is aligned with Kiryandongo’s long-term development vision of transforming the district from a largely rural subsistence agricultural area into a modern industrialised district with improved livelihoods and reputable leadership by 2040.
According to the approved budget framework, the education sector received the largest allocation of Shs18.1 billion to support payment of teachers’ salaries and improvement of school infrastructure across the district.
The health sector received the second largest allocation at Shs9.3 billion, while the production and marketing department was allocated Shs2 billion to support agricultural production and commercialisation programmes.
District officials said the resource envelope for FY2026/2027 reflects a 1.97 percent increase compared to the current financial year.
The increase has been attributed to enhanced funding from the Ministry of Finance, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), development partners and donor organisations.
Council was also informed that revenue performance for the current financial year registered mixed results across various funding sources.
Locally raised revenue performed at 64 percent of the targeted Shs3.4 billion, while central government transfers achieved 75 percent performance against the projected Shs4.2 billion.
Other government transfers registered 51 percent performance out of the expected Shs2.1 billion, whereas external financing exceeded expectations by recording 110 percent performance amounting to Shs3.6 billion.
Under the new budget, district leaders said priority expenditure areas will include construction and rehabilitation of administration blocks, classrooms, staff houses, roads, school VIP latrines, health infrastructure, markets and water facilities.
Officials said the planned investments are expected to improve healthcare access, education standards, sanitation, transport connectivity and local economic activity.
However, council members also acknowledged several challenges affecting implementation of government programmes and service delivery.
Among the key concerns raised were low staffing levels across departments, weak community participation in government programmes and negative attitudes among some taxpayers toward local revenue payment.
Councillors called for increased public sensitisation on tax compliance, strengthening staffing structures and greater community involvement in monitoring public projects.
Despite the challenges, district leaders expressed optimism that prudent utilisation of the approved resources would support sustainable development and improve living standards across Kiryandongo.
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