Kotido Municipal Council Finally Tables Shs 9.3B Budget after deadline.

By Richard Onapatum | April 25, 2025 Kotido, Uganda – After 3 weeks of delay, Kotido Municipal Council has finally tabled its Shs 9.314 billion draft budget for the 2025/2026 financial year—sparking mixed reactions over both the timing and its priorities.

The budget, originally due by March 30th under Ministry of Finance guidelines, was only presented during an emergency full council sitting held Wednesday. The delay was reportedly caused by departmental heads who failed to submit their costed work plans in time.

Where the Money Comes From

The total Shs 9.314 billion budget—slightly lower than last year’s Shs 9.4 billion—will be funded from:

Local revenue: Shs 433.5 million

Conditional government transfers: Shs 7.6 billion

Discretionary government transfers: Shs 1.76 billion

Deputy Mayor Stella Alupo said the budget was aligned to national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on poverty reduction, maternal health, and access to quality education.

How the Budget Will Be Spent

Key sector allocations include:

Human Capital Development – Shs 5.5 billion

Transport Infrastructure – Shs 1 billion

Public Sector Transformation – Shs 833 million

Governance and Administration – Shs 833 million

Tourism Development – Shs 288 million

Agricultural Modernization – Shs 231 million

Leaders, Residents Raise Concerns

While the leadership praised the plan, others voiced concern that vital sectors remain underfunded.

Deputy Speaker Emmanuel Lokol said the budget “falls short” of addressing key issues in health and education, which he termed “urgent and foundational.”

There is still a glaring gap in addressing the staffing and facility shortages in our health centers and schools,” Lokol noted. “The budget needs to be more people-centered.”

Community members agreed. Lomongin Ruth, a mother from West Division, shared her frustration.

We still walk long distances to reach health centers, only to find no medicine. We need this budget to bring real change.”

Compared to Neighbors: Is Kotido Falling Behind?

Compared with municipalities like Moroto, which has a proposed budget of over Shs 10 billion, Kotido’s figures reflect both lower revenue generation and narrower investment scope—raising questions about long-term competitiveness and resilience.

John Abura, of the JIE Development Forum, pointed to the need for greater public participation.

Citizens rarely see their priorities reflected in the final budget. That’s why confidence in local government is fading.”

What Next?

The draft budget will undergo committee scrutiny before final approval. Alupo says mechanisms are being introduced to tighten implementation, improve accountability, and prevent delays in the next budget cycle.

As Kotido faces mounting development demands, all eyes are now on whether the newly laid budget can deliver tangible results—or if it’s another missed opportunity.