What You Should Know Ahead of the 2025/26 Budget Reading

Uganda will today officially launch the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Budget during a national address at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, to be delivered by Minister of Finance, Hon. Matia Kasaija.

The FY 2025/26 budget is particularly significant as it marks the beginning of the second half of Uganda’s Vision 2040 and kicks off the implementation of the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), as well as the first five years of the country’s Tenfold Growth Strategy, aimed at transforming Uganda into a USD 500 billion economy by 2040.

According to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the economy is expected to expand by 7% in FY 2025/26, an improvement from 6.3% in FY 2024/25 and 6.1% in FY 2023/24. This growth will be mainly driven by performance in agriculture, manufacturing, and the services sector, with Uganda’s GDP per capita projected to rise to USD 1,324.

Budget Priorities: ATMS and ENABLERS

The 2025/26 Budget is strategically focused on two clusters: firstly, ATMS – These are priority investment areas for the private sector and State-Owned Enterprises: Agro-Industrial Development, Tourism Development, Mineral-Based Development, including Oil and Gas and Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), with a focus on ICT and the Creative Industry.

Secondly, ENABLERS – These refer to critical public goods and services necessary to create a conducive environment for business and investment. This includes: Infrastructure development, Energy and transport, Education and health services and Digital transformation and governance reforms.

Vision 2040: Halfway Mark

The FY 2025/26 budget begins a decisive phase in Uganda’s long-term development agenda. The Fourth National Development Plan (2025/26–2029/30) is expected to fast-track structural transformation, job creation, and value addition across sectors. The government is now shifting its focus from planning to execution, rallying both public and private sector players to deliver on national goals.

Budget Reading Event

Today’s budget reading ceremony will be attended by senior government officials, members of Parliament, diplomatic representatives, and stakeholders from various sectors. The event will outline how government resources will be allocated to support both short-term economic resilience and long-term prosperity.

As Uganda pushes forward with bold reforms and ambitious targets, the FY 2025/26 Budget is expected to set the tone for a transformative era, laying the groundwork for a competitive, inclusive, and industrialised economy on the road to Vision 2040.