Why over 120 newly created parishes remain unfunded

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Local governments have been directed not to allocate funds to 128 newly created parishes until the boundaries are officially gazetted by the ministry.

In the new planning and budgeting circular dated February 13, 2026, to accounting officers across the country, finance ministry permanent secretary Ramathan Ggoobi says although the parishes were used during the recent general elections, there has been no formal communication confirming their gazettement for purposes of altering administrative boundaries.

“As accounting officers prepare budgets, they are advised not to allocate any resources to these new parishes but maintain the old boundaries until officially guided by this ministry,” the directive says.

The guidance means that districts and other local government entities will continue to plan and budget using the existing parish administrative structures until the local government ministry formally confirms the changes.

Ggoobi said the move is intended to prevent confusion in planning, budgeting and service delivery, which could arise if local governments begin funding administrative units that are not yet formally recognised in the national planning framework.

According to the finance ministry, the 128 new parishes were gazetted and used during the elections, but have not yet been officially communicated for budgetary and planning purposes.

“This Ministry has observed that during the recent general elections, there were new parishes that were gazetted and used, amounting to 128. However, for planning and budgeting purposes, we have not yet received any official communication from the Ministry of Local Government gazetting them for alteration of boundaries,” the ministry said.

The ministry emphasised that until the formal process is completed, accounting officers must maintain the existing administrative boundaries when preparing their budgets for the coming financial year.

The directive forms part of broader guidance issued to local governments aimed at improving planning discipline and public financial management.

The ministry warned that failure to follow the guidelines could create challenges in the release and management of public funds, particularly where administrative units do not align with the official government planning systems.

Ggoobi said the government is working to ensure that administrative changes are properly harmonised across ministries to avoid disruptions in service delivery and budgeting.

The guidance comes as local governments begin preparations for the 2026/27 financial year budgets, with the Ministry of Finance urging accounting officers to strictly adhere to approved structures and planning frameworks.

Responding to the issue, local government minister Raphael Magyezi dismissed reports that there were new parishes that were gazetted for the purpose of the election.

“I am the minister in charge of local government, and there are no new parishes that were gazetted for purposes of election. I have not signed any instrument creating new parishes. Whoever is talking of new parishes and requests for money should be disregarded,” Magyezi said.