The Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG), in partnership with civil society actors and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, convened the CSO Post-Budget Dialogue for FY 2025/26 under the theme “Transforming Challenges into Opportunities for People-Centred Economic Growth.”
The event, held at Mestil Hotel, Nsambya, served as a key platform to analyse the new budget, highlight priority concerns, and recognise excellence in public service delivery.
Celebrating Service Excellence
Several government institutions and local authorities were recognised for outstanding performance with the Service Excellence Award, a prestigious recognition for innovation, transparency, and efficiency in public service.
Isingiro District Local Government was commended for outstanding service delivery, scoring an impressive 93% in the 2023 Local Government Management of Service Delivery Assessment. The district excelled in education (90%) and health (94%), setting a benchmark for effective decentralisation and people-centred governance.
The Office of the Auditor General received accolades for advancing participatory auditing and public accountability through initiatives such as the Citizens’ Feedback Platform and the Audit Recommendation Tracker. These tools have enabled citizens to engage with audit findings and track progress on accountability issues.
The Uganda Driver Licensing System was lauded for transforming the driving permit process into one of the most efficient and transparent services in the public sector. Since the Ministry of Works and Transport took over from Face Technologies in 2020, user experience reports indicate that driving permits are issued in under 30 minutes, a standard that has restored public confidence in government services.
The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) was also awarded for its strides in transparency and citizen engagement in procurement. Through tools like the Contract Monitoring System (CMS) and initiatives to blacklist non-compliant contractors, PPDA is enhancing integrity, local content promotion, and fair competition in public contracting.
The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development received the Service Excellence Award for spearheading budget transparency and citizen engagement. Initiatives such as the Budget Website, Citizens Budget Guide, and the Budget Transparency Initiative have earned Uganda recognition in the 2024 Open Budget Index, where it ranks 1st in Africa and 2nd in East Africa.
“I want to thank the Ministry of Finance for continually providing space for Civil Society Organisations to contribute to Uganda’s development agenda. This open and inclusive approach positions Uganda among the global leaders in budget transparency,” said Dr Arthur Bainomugisha, Executive Director of ACODE Uganda.
Budget Highlights and Concerns
The FY 2025/26 National Budget, amounting to UGX 72.376 trillion, reflects a marginal 0.3% increase from the previous year, driven by a 49.6% rise in budget support and a 26.9% increase in domestic borrowing.
However, civil society expressed concern over the sustainability of Uganda’s growing public debt. “Debt servicing will take up UGX 26.8 trillion, or 37.1% of the total budget—UGX 11.33T for interest payments and UGX 10.03T for domestic refinancing. We must ask: how sustainable is this path?” questioned Julius Mukunda, Executive Director of Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG).
He also pointed to the 2024 Census findings, noting that 33.1% of Ugandan households remain in the subsistence economy, most of them dependent on subsistence farming. He called for increased investment in agriculture and local economic empowerment to shift more households into the money economy.
“The government must ensure that every Ugandan knows how much has been allocated to services in their area,” Mukunda added, emphasising the need for transparency and citizen awareness.
A Call for People-Centred Implementation
Mr Hannington Ashaba, Director of Budget at the Ministry of Finance, affirmed the government’s commitment to inclusive growth: “The FY 2025/26 budget is anchored on the Tenfold Growth Strategy, focusing on the private sector. It presents tremendous opportunities for youth, women, farmers, agro-processors, and entrepreneurs to thrive.”
As Uganda moves into the implementation phase of the FY 2025/26 budget, stakeholders called for continued collaboration between government and civil society to ensure that every shilling spent translates into tangible benefits for citizens.
“Let’s work together to ensure this budget drives people-centred, inclusive growth and accountability for a prosperous Uganda,” concluded Dr Bainomugisha.
