Rukungiri District Projects UGX 63.4 Billion Budget for 2027/2028 as Funding Drops by UGX 5.6 Billion (8.16%)

Rukungiri: Rukungiri District Local Government has projected a budget of UGX 63.47 billion for the 2027/2028 financial year, representing a decrease of UGX 5.64 billion, or 8.16 percent, compared to the current financial year’s approved budget of UGX 69.11 billion.

The figures were presented during the district budget conference for the 2027/2028 financial year held on October 10, at Hotel Riverside in Eastern Division, Rukungiri Municipality.

According to the District Head of Finance, Bataka K. Denis, the projected budget will remain at UGX 1.56 billion from local revenue, UGX 5.86 billion from discretionary government transfers, UGX 1.80 billion from other government transfers and UGX 470 million from donor funding.

However, conditional government transfers are expected to reduce from UGX 59.43 billion in the current financial year to UGX 53.79 billion in the next financial year, contributing to the overall decline in the district’s budget.

The district’s approved budget for the 2026/2027 financial year was UGX 69.11 billion, representing an 11 percent increase from UGX 62.50 billion approved for the 2025/2026 financial year. The budget for this ongoing financial year was approved by the District Council on April 30.

During the conference, heads of departments, including the District Education Officer (DEO), District Health Officer (DHO), District Engineer (DE), District Production Officer (DPO), District Community Development Officer (DCDO), District Commercial Officer (DCO) and District Natural Resources Officer (DNRO), presented their departmental performance reports.

They highlighted achievements from the previous financial year and the ongoing financial year, projects under implementation, priorities for 2027/2028 and challenges affecting service delivery.

In his presentation, the Rukungiri District Chief Administrative Officer, Frederick Byekwaso, said the district would finance its 2027/2028 budget through locally generated revenue and central government funding.

He noted that with a reduction in external funding, the district would strengthen its domestic revenue mobilisation strategy to support service delivery.

Meanwhile, the Rukungiri District LCV Chairperson, Andrewson Charles Kateebire, said the district would prioritise infrastructure development, particularly roads, human capital development, water and sanitation, agro-industrialisation and the Parish Development Model.

Kateebire said the district would also focus on improving education, health services, community mobilisation and mindset change.

In the agriculture sector, he said emphasis would be placed on producing commodities that contribute directly to household food security and generate export revenue.