KAMPALA, Uganda — The Ministry of Finance has released 58.1 percent of the national budget for the 2025/26 fiscal year, with officials reporting that government spending remains steady despite the ongoing presidential election cycle.
The Treasury announced the release of 16.5 trillion shillings for the third quarter during a Jan. 9 briefing. Ramathan Ggoobi, the permanent secretary and secretary to the Treasury, said the disbursement ensures that both day-to-day operations and long-term development projects remain on schedule.
Ggoobi dismissed concerns that the January elections would drain resources from public services. He stated that all election-related costs were fully integrated into the national budget, and that 63.4 percent of the government’s own funded budget has already been disbursed.
The 16.5 trillion shilling release includes 7.59 trillion shillings for debt servicing and treasury operations. Another 2.17 trillion shillings is allocated for wages, with 2.89 trillion shillings directed toward non-wage recurrent expenses.
Infrastructure projects received a significant portion of the funding, including 1.2 trillion shillings for the Ministry of Works and Transport to continue road construction and maintenance.
While funding is available, Ggoobi warned accounting officers that they must accelerate program implementation or face sanctions. He noted that some officials have delayed salary and pension payments despite having the necessary funds.
The Ministry of Finance reported that the economy continues to show resilience, with inflation remaining stable at 3.1 percent through December 2025. Growth for the current financial year is projected to reach between 6.5 percent and 7 percent.
Uganda also recorded a balance of payments surplus of $2.37 billion for the year ending October 2025, the highest in 15 years. Foreign direct investment and tourism earnings also showed strong recovery, reaching $3.5 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively.
