The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development has launched the National Budget Month for the Financial Year 2026/27, reaffirming the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in the budget process.
Speaking at the launch in Kampala, Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Ramathan Ggoobi, said the FY 2026/27 budget was developed through extensive consultations involving the President, Cabinet, Parliament, ministries, departments and agencies, local governments, civil society organizations, development partners, the private sector, academia, youth, women, persons with disabilities, and citizens across the country.
“The National Budget Month provides a platform for government to report on achievements, share opportunities contained in the new budget, and receive feedback from citizens to inform future planning and budgeting processes,” Ggoobi said.
The FY 2026/27 budget, which was approved by Parliament on April 24, 2026, is themed: “Full Monetization of Uganda’s Economy through Commercial Agriculture, Industrialization, Expanding Services, Digital Transformation and Market Access.”
Ggoobi noted that since its introduction in 2018, National Budget Month has significantly strengthened public engagement in the budget process, improved awareness of government programs, and enhanced Uganda’s standing in international budget transparency assessments.
According to the latest Open Budget Survey, Uganda’s budget transparency score improved from 58 percent in 2021 to 59 percent in 2023, surpassing the global average of 45 percent. Similarly, the country’s budget oversight score increased from 59 percent to 67 percent, well above the global average of 52 percent.
He urged citizens and stakeholders to actively participate in Budget Month activities, emphasizing the importance of monitoring government programs, ensuring resources are utilized as intended, and supporting national development priorities under the Ten-Fold Growth Strategy and the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV).
Hannington Ashaba, the Acting Director of Budget, also called upon government institutions, civil society organizations, and the media to continue promoting budget literacy, accountability, transparency, and citizen engagement.
The National Budget Month initiative is aimed at enhancing public understanding of the national budget, promoting citizen participation and feedback, strengthening monitoring and accountability in public resource utilization, and making the budget process more accessible and understandable to all Ugandans.
