How the 2026/27 budget has boosted key sectors

Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Mr Henry Musasizi before presenting the 2026/27 budget at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds yesterday. PHOTO | PARLIAMENT X HANDLE

The government’s agenda to monetise the economy continues to take shape, with wealth-creation programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) taking the lead. To date, the government has invested close to Shs11 trillion directly into wealth-creation initiatives targeting households in the subsistence economy, farmers, youth, women, and businesses. Keeping this momentum during his budget speech, the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Mr Henry Musasizi, announced an additional Shs2.4 trillion in wealth-creation programmes.

This is intended to accelerate the monetisation of the economy and further expand the wealth creation initiative. To lift nearly 15 million people out of subsistence farming and into the money economy, Uganda has maintained its previous budget theme. The focus for Financial Year 2026/2027 remains the “Full Monetisation of Uganda’s Economy.” This will be driven by commercial agriculture, industrialisation, services, digital transformation, and market access. Delivered yesterday at the Kololo Independence Grounds, the budget speech made it clear that the government wants to fast-track its ambitious blueprint: growing the economy to $500b over the next 14 years.

The strategy aims to achieve double-digit growth by focusing on the Agro-industrialisation, Tourism development, Mineral-based development (ATMS), including oil and gas), and Science, Technology, and Innovation. It is for this reason that in the 2026/27 financial year (FY), the government has allocated 95.6 percent of discretionary resources to the ATMS and their key enablers. This budget prioritises production, productivity, value addition, exports, and job creation. According to Mr Musasizi, this budget launches Uganda into the “Kisanja No More Sleep”.

Under the agro-industrialisation pillar of the ATMS framework, a total of Shs2.2 trillion was allocated, marking the highest funding ever dedicated to the programme. This historic allocation will primarily fund agricultural research and innovation, including the commercialisation of anti-tick vaccines and the expansion of irrigation for water-for-production. Funds will also be used to enhance agricultural extension services by recruiting more workers and facilitating their outreach to farmers.

Furthermore, the budget will support the provision of high-quality agricultural inputs, post-harvest handling, and storage. These inve