Budget for Uganda's foreign missions rises by sh42b

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The Government has proposed a sh442.493 billion budget for Uganda’s missions abroad in the 2026/27 financial year, reflecting a sh42.29 billion increase from the allocation of sh400.19 billion in the ending (2025/26) financial year.

According to Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs report on the Ministerial Policy Statement and Budget Estimates for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Missions Abroad, the increase is largely driven by higher allocations under wage, non-wage recurrent and development expenditure.

Of the proposed allocation, sh41.78b has been earmarked for wages, sh311.21b for non-wage recurrent expenditure and sh89.49b for development expenditure.

The increase in the wage bill is partly attributed to additional funding for Uganda’s missions in New York, Tehran, Doha and Berlin, with the additional funding meant to facilitate the recruitment of local staff and address wage shortfalls. New York has received an additional sh995m, Tehran sh357m, Doha sh112m and Berlin sh249m.

Uganda currently operates 40 diplomatic missions abroad and coordinates relations with 132 resident embassies, high commissions, international organisations and honorary consulates accredited to the country.

Ministry Headquarters Budget

Separately, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters is expected to receive sh79.19b in the 2026/27 financial year, up from sh66.28b. The ministry’s wage allocation will increase from sh14.11b to sh20.68b to cater for salary enhancements for selected staff and the recruitment of 31 officers on a replacement basis.

Non-wage expenditure will rise from sh31.01b to sh40.49b, while the development budget will increase from sh3.553b to Sh14.74b. A significant portion of the development allocation, sh14.19b, has been earmarked for the acquisition of land adjacent to the ministry headquarters in Kampala.

The committee report noted that the ministry headquarters was originally designed to accommodate about 100 staff but is currently serving 374 employees, creating pressure on office space and service delivery.

The planned acquisition is linked to a grant of $5.33m (sh19.7b) from China for the expansion of the ministry headquarters, with government required to secure the neighbouring land before the project can proceed.