By Phiona Rwandarugali, EALA MP Candidate 2026-2027
On Thursday 11th June 2026, the Minister of Finance read Uganda’s budget for 2026/2027. UGX 84.4 trillion was laid on the table of Parliament. This is the money that will run our schools, hospitals, roads and farms for one year.
The numbers that matter
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Roads, railways, borders: UGX 8.79 trillion. This is for tarmac, SGR and modern border posts.
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Agriculture: UGX 2.26 trillion. This is for seeds, irrigation, storage and market access.
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Exports: Uganda earned 18 billion dollars last year. But trade inside EAC dropped 10 percent in early 2026.
What the budget means region by region
This money is for all Ugandans, whether you earn 10,000 shillings a day or 20 million a month:
Northern and North Eastern:
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Karamoja: Money for roads to Nadapal. Moroto’s 300,000 cattle can reach Kenya and South Sudan markets.
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Acholi: Gulu logistics hub and roads to Nimule and Elegu. Maize, simsim and shea butter move faster to South Sudan.
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Lango: Roads to Lira and Soroti upgraded. Lower transport cost for milk and grains.
Eastern:
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Elgon: Support for coffee farmers in Bududa, Manafwa and Sironko. Less spoilage, better prices.
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Sebei: Cold chains at Suam border. Sebei milk and Irish potatoes enter Kenya formally. Less waste.
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Teso: Roads to Malaba and Busia improved. Teso cattle, cassava and sweet potatoes reach regional markets faster.
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Bukedi: Busia One Stop Border Post funded. Traders in Tororo, Pallisa and Mbale clear goods in hours, not days.
Western and South-Western:
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Bunyoro: The 11th June 2026 budget funds EACOP and Hoima roads. Bunyoro becomes an EAC energy hub with more local jobs and contracts.
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Ankole: Mbarara industrial park and Katuna and Cyanika border upgrades. Ankole milk reaches Rwanda and DRC at lower cost.
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Kigezi: Katuna and Cyanika modernization. Potatoes, fruits and vegetables from Kabale cross borders with less loss.
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Kisoro: Cyanika and Bunagana borders modernized under this budget. Kisoro Irish potatoes, beans, pyrethrum and tourism at Mgahinga get faster access to Rwanda and DRC markets. Less post-harvest loss, better prices for Kisoro farmers.
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Rwenzori: Roads from Kasese to Mpondwe border and SGR connection. Coffee and cocoa reach DRC and global markets at lower cost.
Central:
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Buganda: Standard Gauge Railway will cut transport costs by 50 percent. Kampala to Mombasa in 1 day instead of 7 days. Factories in Namanve and Kampala pay less for inputs and sell more in EAC.
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West Nile: Oraba and Vurra border upgrades. Maize, simsim and tobacco from Arua move faster and spoil less.
The real test
Transport costs in East Africa are up to 30 to 40 percent of product price. SGR is projected to cut freight costs by 40 percent per tonne kilometre. Whether you are in Soroti, Gulu, Mbarara, Kisoro or Kampala, cheaper transport means higher profit.
One question for every Ugandan
Ask your MP: “Did the budget of Thursday 11th June 2026 help my district trade better and earn more?” Citizens must demand answers. MPs must be involved. No district left behind.
Bottom line
84.4 trillion shillings is not just a number. It is roads for Karamoja, cold chains for Sebei, borders for Kisoro, oil roads for Bunyoro, and SGR for Buganda. If we use it well, the cattle keeper in Kotido, the potato farmer in Kisoro, the trader in Busia and the factory worker in Namanve will all benefit.
Pamoja Twaweza – Together we can. Hakuna kulala – Team no sleep!
