The Minister for the Presidency, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, has challenged government leaders to justify their budget priorities with clear results, warning that public spending must directly contribute to Uganda’s development ambitions. She called on ministries, departments and agencies under the Governance and Security Programme (GSP) to prepare realistic and accountable budget proposals for the 2027/2028 financial year, in line with the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) and the Tenfold Growth Strategy.
Babalanda made the remarks while opening a meeting of the Governance and Security Programme Steering and Political Leadership Committee at Speke Resort Munyonyo. The meeting attracted ministers, permanent secretaries, accounting officers and heads of government institutions tasked with reviewing priorities and preparing the Budget Framework Paper for the next financial year. She said the planning process should focus on national development needs rather than institutional interests, with every proposed expenditure linked to a clear purpose and expected outcome.
The minister stressed that the budget preparation exercise must be completed within the legally prescribed timelines. She noted that the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development had issued the First Budget Call Circular and reminded participants that the process is guided by Article 155 of the Constitution and Section 12 of the Public Finance Management Act. Babalanda said approved draft budget estimates must be submitted to the ministry by Thursday, October 15, 2026, urging all responsible officers to act quickly while maintaining the required standards.
She called on political leaders to provide clear direction on government priorities and urged accounting officers and technical teams to translate those priorities into properly costed and achievable plans. Babalanda also emphasised the need for government institutions to abandon isolated planning and embrace joint implementation. She explained that peace, security, the rule of law, accountability and good governance reinforce one another, making cooperation among institutions essential to achieving national objectives.
Babalanda said the Governance and Security Programme has a critical role to play in supporting Uganda’s ambition of growing its economy from $50 billion to $500 billion within 15 years. She explained that the Tenfold Growth Strategy requires investment in productive sectors alongside a peaceful country, strong institutions, efficient public administration and reliable enforcement of the law. She urged government agencies to show how their proposed budgets would contribute to NDP IV targets and the Programme Implementation Action Plans covering all 18 national development programmes.
The minister also warned that corruption, waste and poor financial management threaten the effective implementation of government programmes. She called for stronger preventive measures, transparency in public procurement, proper control of expenditure and adherence to ethical standards. Babalanda said public officials must be held accountable through established legal mechanisms whenever misconduct occurs, adding that government resources should be directed towards improving services and addressing the needs of citizens.
Turning to programme implementation, Babalanda urged leaders to take President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s guidance on reducing unnecessary expenditure and improving efficiency seriously. She challenged ministers and technical officers to regularly visit communities and assess the progress of government interventions, including the Parish Development Model, Emyooga and the 4-Acre Model. She said leaders must identify implementation gaps and ensure that the programmes deliver their intended benefits instead of relying solely on office reports and administrative meetings.
Babalanda thanked participants for their engagement and called on them to turn the meeting’s resolutions into practical action. She urged all institutions to complete their budget preparations within the stipulated timelines, strengthen coordination and ensure that spending priorities reflect national development goals. She expressed confidence that disciplined financial management, effective monitoring and accountable leadership would strengthen the Governance and Security Programme and help Uganda advance towards the objectives of NDP IV and the Tenfold Growth Strategy.
