The government has directed ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to submit their approved draft budget estimates for the 2027/2028 financial year by Thursday, October 15, 2026, as preparations begin for the next national budget.
Minister in charge of the Presidency Milly Babalanda issued the directive during a Political Leadership Committee meeting under the Governance and Security Programme (GSP) held at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
The meeting brought together ministers, permanent secretaries, accounting officers and heads of government agencies to review budget proposals and prepare the Budget Framework Paper for the 2027/2028 financial year.
Babalanda urged political and technical leaders to treat the deadline with urgency, emphasising the need for realistic, properly costed and implementable budget proposals aligned with Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) and the Tenfold Growth Strategy.
She said political leaders must provide clear policy direction reflecting the aspirations of Ugandans, while accounting officers and technical teams should ensure that proposed expenditures are supported by accountability mechanisms.
“The focus must not simply be on how much money each institution receives, but on the results we collectively deliver and the tangible difference our interventions make in the lives of Ugandans,” Babalanda said.
The minister also congratulated her colleagues on their appointments and reappointments for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government's 2026–2031 term, urging them to demonstrate commitment, patriotism, integrity and a strong sense of duty.
She commended permanent secretaries, accounting officers and technical teams for their role in implementing government policies and programmes.
Babalanda noted that the budget preparation process follows the issuance of the First Budget Call Circular by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. She said the exercise is anchored in Article 155 of Uganda's Constitution and Section 12 of the Public Finance Management Act.
The minister further called for stronger coordination among government institutions, warning against fragmented planning that could lead to duplication of projects and inefficient use of public resources.
She said governance, peace, security, the rule of law, accountability and the fight against corruption required joint action across government agencies.
The budget proposals, she added, must support the Tenfold Growth Strategy, which seeks to expand Uganda's economy from approximately US$50 billion to US$500 billion within 15 years.
Babalanda urged all MDAs to demonstrate how their proposed allocations would advance national development priorities and programme implementation plans under the 18 NDP IV programmes.