_________________
Finance state minister in charge of general duties, Henry Musasizi, has said the government’s proposed tax policy measures to finance the next financial year’s budget amount to sh1.741 trillion.
“We have also proposed tax policy measures amounting to sh1.741 trillion to finance the Budget,” she told a plenary session chaired by Speaker Anita Among on April 1, 2026.
He said the projected total draft annual budget for the financial year 2026/27 is sh84.294 trillion.
“This will be the first budget to implement the next NRM (National Resistance Movement) manifesto for the period 2026/27-2030/31. The budget has accordingly prioritised investments in agro-industrialisation, tourism development, mineral-based industrial development, and science, technology and innovation, including ICT and creative arts industry and enablers,” he said.
He tabled in Parliament a raft of new taxes scheduled to come into effect at the beginning of the 2026/27 financial year.
The proposed new taxes, contained in the Excise Amendment Bill, 2026, target imported spirits, cement and cooking oil, among other items.
The Bill seeks to impose a sh3,500 levy on any other un-denatured spirits imported into Uganda, a sh1,000 tax per 50kg of cement, and sh500 per litre of cooking oil.
The Government also plans to introduce a withholding tax on all public entertainers in Uganda as it seeks to raise sh44.5 trillion in revenue for the 2026/27 financial year to finance the sh84.209 trillion national budget.
Musasizi also told the House that key expenditure drivers for the 2026/27 annual budget include increased investments in major projects such as the Standard Gauge Railway, Meter Gauge Railway, Kampala Jinja Express Highway, construction and maintenance of critical roads, and electricity for industrial parks, among others.
He noted that the budget also provides resources to support readiness activities for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, as well as enhancement of salaries for primary school teachers and arts teachers in secondary schools and business, technical and vocational education and training institutions.
Musasizi said the Budget Speech for the financial year 2026/27 will be presented on June 11, 2026.