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Govt invests sh11 trillion in wealth creation programmes — Musasizi
Musasizi said over the last five years, government has transferred sh4.4 trillion as revolving capital to 10,589 parishes across the country.
Finance minister Henry Musasizi presenting the 2026/27 national budget at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds today (June 11, 2026). (Photo by Maria Waamala)
By: Mary Karugaba, Journalist @New Vision
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The Government has invested close to sh11 trillion in different wealth-creation programmes aimed at moving millions of Ugandans from subsistence livelihoods into the money economy over the past five years, finance minister Henry Musasizi has revealed.
Presenting the 2026/27 national budget at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds today (June 11, 2026), Musasizi said the interventions target households, farmers, women, youth and businesses by expanding access to affordable capital, strengthening enterprise development and increasing household incomes.
Highlighting the achievements of government in the financial year 2025/26, the minister described wealth creation as the foundation of economic transformation and praised President Museveni for his visionary leadership that is aimed at empowering Ugandans.
Describing the Parish Development Model (PDM) as the most important intervention for poverty eradication, Musasizi said over the last five years, government has transferred sh4.4 trillion as revolving capital to 10,589 parishes across the country.
“By the end of June, the programme is expected to have reached more than four million beneficiaries, and the next phase of PDM will focus on improving productivity, value addition and market access while ensuring under-served and densely populated urban parishes receive adequate funding,” he said.
He said the Government also plans to gradually transform the programme into a self-sustaining financial ecosystem, ultimately evolving into a PDM Bank.
On Emyooga, as one of the wealth creation programmes, Musasizi said government has so far capitalised the programme with sh760 billion in revolving funds.
“The programme has established 7,148 SACCOs (Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations) with more than 2.48 million members and cumulative savings of sh95.3 billion. An additional sh100 billion has been allocated in the 2026/27 financial year for Emyooga,” he said.
According to Musasizi, the Government is currently piloting the Katale Loan Facility, administered through the Microfinance Support Centre in six major markets within the Kampala Metropolitan Area.
“By the end of June, the programme is expected to have reached more than four million beneficiaries, and the next phase of PDM will focus on improving productivity, value addition and market access while ensuring under-served and densely populated urban parishes receive adequate funding,” he said.
He said the Government also plans to gradually transform the programme into a self-sustaining financial ecosystem, ultimately evolving into a PDM Bank.
On Emyooga, as one of the wealth creation programmes, Musasizi said government has so far capitalised the programme with sh760 billion in revolving funds.
“The programme has established 7,148 SACCOs (Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations) with more than 2.48 million members and cumulative savings of sh95.3 billion. An additional sh100 billion has been allocated in the 2026/27 financial year for Emyooga,” he said.
According to Musasizi, the Government is currently piloting the Katale Loan Facility, administered through the Microfinance Support Centre in six major markets within the Kampala Metropolitan Area.
Musasizi noted that the facility offers working capital loans at an annual interest rate of 8 percent and currently serves traders in St Balikuddembe (Owino), Nakawa, Kalerwe, Busega, Nakasero and Ggaba markets.
The minister said the Government plans to roll it out nationwide during the 2026/27 financial year.
About the Small Business Fund, Musasizi said government has so far disbursed more than sh82.1 billion to 4,031 small and medium enterprises since its establishment in 2021 following the Covid-19 pandemic. The facility offers loans of up to sh500 million at a 10 percent interest rate.
“The Government has also invested sh371.7 billion in the Agricultural Credit Facility, which has leveraged cumulative lending of sh1.35 trillion to more than 14,000 beneficiaries. A further sh47.68 billion has been allocated to the facility next year,” he said.
For large-scale commercial farmers cultivating at least 50 acres of grains and animal feeds, Musasizi said government paid sh41 billion in interest subsidies during the current financial year (2025/26), enabling 186 farmers to access sh169.1 billion in credit. "Another sh41 billion has been set aside for the programme in 2026/27,” he noted.
Through the Uganda Development Bank, one of the largest recipients of government capitalisation, Musasizi said government has injected sh1.6 trillion into the bank, bringing more than sh2.45 trillion in financing to over 600 businesses operating in agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, construction and services. In the 2026/27 financial year, Musasizi said the bank will receive an additional sh442.2 billion.
Under the World Bank-financed GROW (Generating Opportunities for Women) project, Musasizi said sh133.14 billion in soft loans has been extended to 6,584 women-owned businesses, complementing sh153.5 billion previously disbursed under the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme, which has benefited nearly 245,000 women.
For youth empowerment, the minister said government has financed 24,859 projects benefiting 275,034 young people at a cost of sh195.4 billion, while another 57,849 youths have benefited through the Youth Venture Capital Fund.
Another beneficiary group, according to Musasizi, is the Creatives through which government has established a sh33 billion revolving fund for musicians and other creatives to support enterprise growth and job creation.
“In addition, private teachers' unions received sh20 billion to strengthen their SACCOs and improve access to affordable credit, on top of an earlier sh25 billion extended to Walimu SACCO umbrella structures. A total of sh2.49 trillion has been earmarked for teachers SACCOs next financial year,” he said.
The minister said the Government plans to roll it out nationwide during the 2026/27 financial year.
About the Small Business Fund, Musasizi said government has so far disbursed more than sh82.1 billion to 4,031 small and medium enterprises since its establishment in 2021 following the Covid-19 pandemic. The facility offers loans of up to sh500 million at a 10 percent interest rate.
“The Government has also invested sh371.7 billion in the Agricultural Credit Facility, which has leveraged cumulative lending of sh1.35 trillion to more than 14,000 beneficiaries. A further sh47.68 billion has been allocated to the facility next year,” he said.
For large-scale commercial farmers cultivating at least 50 acres of grains and animal feeds, Musasizi said government paid sh41 billion in interest subsidies during the current financial year (2025/26), enabling 186 farmers to access sh169.1 billion in credit. "Another sh41 billion has been set aside for the programme in 2026/27,” he noted.
Through the Uganda Development Bank, one of the largest recipients of government capitalisation, Musasizi said government has injected sh1.6 trillion into the bank, bringing more than sh2.45 trillion in financing to over 600 businesses operating in agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, construction and services. In the 2026/27 financial year, Musasizi said the bank will receive an additional sh442.2 billion.
Under the World Bank-financed GROW (Generating Opportunities for Women) project, Musasizi said sh133.14 billion in soft loans has been extended to 6,584 women-owned businesses, complementing sh153.5 billion previously disbursed under the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme, which has benefited nearly 245,000 women.
For youth empowerment, the minister said government has financed 24,859 projects benefiting 275,034 young people at a cost of sh195.4 billion, while another 57,849 youths have benefited through the Youth Venture Capital Fund.
Another beneficiary group, according to Musasizi, is the Creatives through which government has established a sh33 billion revolving fund for musicians and other creatives to support enterprise growth and job creation.
“In addition, private teachers' unions received sh20 billion to strengthen their SACCOs and improve access to affordable credit, on top of an earlier sh25 billion extended to Walimu SACCO umbrella structures. A total of sh2.49 trillion has been earmarked for teachers SACCOs next financial year,” he said.