Education takes lion’s share as Zombo district unveils budget for FY2025/26

Zombo: The Zombo District Council has proposed a draft budget of 34.6 billion UGX for the 2025/26 fiscal year, marking a strategic financial blueprint aimed at promoting sustainable development, economic resilience, and inclusive growth in the region.

This budget is designed to stimulate local economic activity, improve living standards, and align with Uganda’s broader vision of economic transformation.

The budget is grounded in the national theme, “Full Monetization of Uganda’s Economy through Commercial Agriculture, Industrialization, Expanding and Broadening Services, Digital Transformation, and Market Access”. It reflects Zombo District’s commitment to leveraging key growth drivers to enhance economic output and contribute to national development objectives.

The proposed budget allocates resources across essential sectors to maximize both economic returns and social benefits.

According to the budget breakdown, education sector will take a lion’s share of Education: 15 billion UGX (43%), the largest portion of the budget, aimed at strengthening human capital development, which is vital for long-term productivity and innovation.

Health sector has been allocated 7.2 billion UGX (21%). Investments to improve healthcare access and outcomes, which will increase labor force participation and reduce productivity losses due to illness.

The administration has been allocated 5 billion UGX (14.5%) with funding to enhance governance and institutional efficiency, fostering an enabling environment for economic activities.

Production and marketing has been allocated 2.6 billion UGX (8%)  whereby investments in agricultural productivity and market linkages to drive rural incomes and agro-based economic growth.

Other sectors receive the remaining budget share, with a focus on economic diversification, job creation, and poverty reduction in line with the National Development Plan IV (NDP IV).

The budget emphasizes education and health as foundational to increasing workforce skills and resilience, while investments in production and marketing aim to boost value addition and trade, thus contributing to Zombo’s GDP.

The 2025/26 budget is designed to deliver tangible economic benefits, including; increased Employment Opportunities where investments in education, health, and production will create direct and indirect jobs, reducing unemployment and underemployment.

Boost to the local economy where enhanced agricultural productivity and market access will increase household incomes, spurring consumption and local business growth.

Improved infrastructure and services where funding for administration and digital transformation will streamline service delivery, attract investment, and reduce transaction costs for businesses.

Long-term growth by aligning with the NDP IV and the goal of growing Uganda’s economy tenfold by 2040, the budget lays the foundation for sustained economic expansion through agro-industrialization and innovation.

Mustafa Ongom, the Secretary for Finance, Planning, and Administration, emphasized the importance of stakeholder collaboration for the budget’s successful implementation.

“This budget is a blueprint for economic empowerment and structural transformation, requiring collective effort to unlock its full potential,” he said.

Zombo District LCV Chairperson James Oruna Oyullu stressed the need for rigorous oversight and monitoring to optimize resource utilization.

“Effective governance is the backbone of economic progress,” he noted. Additionally, Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Festus Ayikobua highlighted the importance of enhanced coordination and supervision of public sector initiatives.

Deputy Council Speaker Jacinta Acen underscored the need for effective communication to ensure transparency and accountability in budget execution.

Zombo’s 2025/26 draft budget of 34.6 billion UGX reflects a slight decrease from the 2024/25 fiscal year’s initial budget of 37 billion UGX, which was later revised upward to 38.7 billion UGX due to supplementary allocations from the Ministry of Finance. This adjustment represents a strategic recalibration to prioritize high-impact sectors while maintaining fiscal sustainability.

As part of the national agenda, starting in 2025/26, the government will launch accelerator actions to spur economic growth, including initiatives in agro-industrialization, tourism development, mineral-based industries, and advancements in ICT, science, and the creative arts.

 Zombo’s budget positions the district to capitalize on these national priorities and drive both local and regional economic momentum.

Do you have an advertisement or article you want to publish? Mail us at theugreports@gmail.com or WhatsApp +256757022363.