Former Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda has raised concerns over what he described as structural imbalances in Uganda’s proposed Shs84.3 trillion national budget for the 2026/27 financial year, arguing that critical social sectors continue to face funding gaps despite the scale of overall spending.
Ssemujju said the budget does not explicitly capture allocations such as Shs28 billion required for medical interns’ allowances, Shs8 billion for Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) training linked to the revised curriculum marking system, and Shs3.5 billion needed for full implementation of the competency-based curriculum developed under the National Curriculum Development Centre (National Curriculum Development Centre).
He warned that such omissions risk worsening already strained service delivery in health and education, particularly at a time when public systems are under pressure from staffing shortages, delayed deployments, and ongoing reforms.
Uganda’s health sector has in recent years grappled with recurring disputes involving medical interns, including delayed deployment, contested allowances, and staffing gaps in regional referral hospitals.
Education has also been undergoing reforms aimed at transitioning to competency-based learning, requiring retraining of teachers, updated assessment frameworks, and improved learning materials.
Ssemujju argued that these priorities should be more explicitly reflected in national planning to avoid recurrent disruptions in essential services.
“At the same time, there is Shs211 billion for welfare and entertainment for big people, Shs536 billion for special meals and drinks, Shs196 billion for big people to donate, Shs17 billion for firewood, gas and charcoal, and Shs2.6 trillion for classified expenditure,” he said, questioning the balance of spending priorities.
Presenting the national budget at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, Finance Minister Henry Musasizi said government has increased investment in both health and education in the new financial year.
He announced that Shs6.66 trillion has been allocated to education and skills development, while Shs5.23 trillion has been set aside for the health sector, which remains central to government’s human capital development agenda.
Musasizi said the health allocation will support maternal and child health services, immunisation programmes, nutrition improvement, management of non-communicable diseases, supply of essential medicines, emergency response systems, and progress toward Universal Health Coverage.
On education, he said government remains committed to building a skilled workforce to support industrialisation and long-term economic transformation, noting that education is a key driver of social mobility.
He also announced Shs568.65 billion for salary enhancements targeting primary school teachers, arts teachers in secondary schools, and instructors in technical and vocational education and training institutions, aimed at improving motivation and service delivery.
According to the budget framework, about 9.52 million learners are enrolled under Universal Primary Education, while nearly one million are in Universal Secondary Education and post-O-Level programmes.
Government further highlighted continued expansion of secondary school infrastructure, including completion of 90 seed secondary schools and operationalisation of 259 others across the country.
In sports infrastructure, officials pointed to ongoing works ahead of Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027, including upgrades at Mandela National Stadium Namboole, completed works at Hoima Stadium, and construction progress at Akii-Bua Stadium.
As Parliament continues scrutiny of the budget, debate is expected to intensify over the balance between social sector financing, administrative costs, and classified expenditure, as lawmakers weigh competing national priorities.