Gulu City approves sh44.6 billion budget for 2026/2027 financial year

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Uganda's northern city of Gulu has passed a sh44.6 billion budget for the 2026/2027 financial year.

It was approved during a council meeting on Friday (March 27) chaired by city speaker Joyce Reene Alima.

It is a sh5 billion increase from the sh39.1 billion budget of the current financial year that ends this June.

Caroline Adong, the secretary for finance, told councillors that the increase stemmed from the re-considered funding from the Uganda Cities and Municipalities Infrastructure Development Programme (UCMID) and the increase in the wage bill for civil servants.

She highlighted the areas with improved budgeting as salary for teachers and tutors, tourism grant, pension, and gratuity.

After the budget was passed, Alfred Okwonga, the Gulu City mayor, told the city technocrats and the political wing to harmonise their working relationship to make sure the tabled budget is implemented well.

He also said there is a need to formulate a way of improving the budget laying process, which, according to him, calls for collective responsibility.

Morris Odong, the Pece-Laroo South Division LCV councillor, who is the newly elected Laroo-Pece City Division LCV councillor, said a bigger budget will spur improved service delivery in Gulu.

Meanwhile, he urged the business community in the city to cooperate with the city authorities in the implementation of the current ongoing Trade Order aimed at bringing sanity to the city.