Civil Society Groups Express Alarm Over proposed Budget Cuts in FY 2026/27 National Budget

13 January 2026, 4:01 pm

By Annet Nakato

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), under their umbrella body the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG), have expressed concern over proposed budget cuts to critical sectors in the FY 2026/27 National Budget Framework Paper.

Speaking to journalists at the CSBAG offices in Ntinda, the organisation’s Executive Director, Julius Mukunda, highlighted significant reductions in allocations to key areas of national development.

He revealed that funding for Human Capital Development has been cut from UGX 11.48 trillion to UGX 9.86 trillion, representing a reduction of UGX 1.63 trillion.

Mukunda further noted that the Governance and Security sector has also been affected, with its allocation reduced from UGX 9.91 trillion to UGX 9.02 trillion.

Additional cuts include UGX 352.8 billion from Agro-industrialisation, UGX 58.9 billion from Manufacturing, and UGX 108.5 billion from Digital Transformation.

He added that other sectors facing reductions include public sector transformation, private sector development, tourism, and innovation. According to Mukunda, the proposed budget adjustments signal a shift toward capital-intensive investments at the expense of social and productive sectors.

Mukunda warned that this approach could undermine efforts to improve service delivery and weaken the country’s ability to address pressing socio-economic challenges.