Pallisa District has approved a Shs48.8 billion budget for the 2025/2026 financial year aimed at improving service delivery across its 21 administrative units.
The funds have been allocated to key sectors including administration, health, education, and water and sanitation.
Under the water and sanitation sector, the district has set aside close to Shs500 million to drill 11 boreholes and construct a production well at Pallisa General Hospital to ensure a reliable water supply.
According to the district planner, Robert Mukesi, the decision was taken after the hospital repeatedly experienced water shortages due to high water bills owed to National Water and Sewerage Corporation.
“They have been struggling to pay water bills to National Water and sometimes the hospital would even run out of water. So we decided to establish a permanent water source there,” Mukesi said.
The district has also prioritised the renovation of the old district administration block, which was originally constructed in 1991. A total of Shs79 million has been allocated to refurbish the ageing structure.
Mukesi said the building had developed serious structural challenges, including a leaking roof and visible cracks.
“The building’s roof was leaking and there were visible cracks, so we had to plan for its renovation. As you can see, it is now in a much better condition,” he added.
However, despite the significant investment in development projects, several initiatives in the district remain behind schedule.
One such project is the new district administration block whose construction began in the 2018/2019 financial year and was expected to be completed within the same year. However, even after the district has so far invested more than Shs1.8 billion, the building remains incomplete.
“Our initial target was to complete it within that financial year, but we did not have enough funds. We therefore decided to implement the project in eight phases. So far, about Shs1.8 billion has been invested, and we still need close to Shs1 billion to complete it,” Mukesi explained.
Concerns have also been raised over delays in other infrastructure projects in the district, including the Pallisa–Ngora bridge.
Pallisa Resident District Commissioner Majid Dhikusooka said the bridge was supposed to be commissioned in May last year, but the project is still incomplete.
“The Pallisa–Ngora bridge was supposed to be commissioned in May last year, but up to now it is still incomplete. They wanted to commission it at 80 per cent completion, which I refused. I will write to the ministry to remind them that the project is overdue,” Dhikusooka said.
Meanwhile, the district is also struggling to utilise more than Shs2 billion allocated for recruitment due to the expiry of the term of office of members of the District Service Commission, which oversees recruitment.
The process has been further complicated by disagreements among district stakeholders over who should be appointed to the new commission, with some individuals threatening to challenge the process in court.
Mukesi said district leaders are closely following the matter but hope the recruitment process will not be halted.
“We are following the process keenly. Those who want to pursue their case can do so, but we do not want the recruitment process to be halted because the district risks losing the funds,” he said.
With only two months remaining before the end of the financial year, officials fear the recruitment exercise may not be completed in time, forcing the district to return the funds to the national treasury.
“The recruitment process has delayed and the procedures involved take time. With the little time left, we may not be able to complete it, meaning the funds could be returned to the treasury,” Mukesi added.
Currently, Pallisa District is facing a significant staffing gap, particularly in the sectors of education, health, community development, and administration. The planned recruitment was expected to help address these shortages and improve service delivery across the district.
