Fort Portal City has approved a Shs38 billion budget for the 2026/2027 financial year, signaling an expanded fiscal strategy aimed at strengthening service delivery and sustaining urban growth.
The new budget represents a Shs7.2 billion increase from the Shs30.8 billion allocation for the 2025/2026 financial year, reflecting both rising expenditure demands and improved revenue projections. City leaders say the increment is designed to support key sectors, including health, education, production, and technical services, as Fort Portal continues to position itself as a growing urban center in western Uganda.
The budget estimates were presented by Deputy Mayor Mujungu Betty during a council sitting held at the Mbarara City council chambers in Kimukuzi Hill. The session formed part of a benchmarking exercise aimed at enhancing local revenue generation and improving fiscal management practices.
According to the approved framework, the city expects to mobilize Shs3.4 billion from local revenue sources, complemented by Shs6.5 billion in discretionary transfers and Shs27.5 billion in conditional transfers from central government. Additional inflows will include Shs332 million from other government transfers and Shs62 million from external financing.
The approval process, led by Councilor Balisanga Tadeo, also covered key governance instruments, including the recruitment plan, procurement plan, and charging policy, with minimal amendments—an indication of broad political consensus.
Deputy Mayor Mujungu emphasized that efficient utilization of the funds will be critical in delivering tangible improvements in public services. She also highlighted the importance of continued collaboration among city leaders and communities to drive socio-economic transformation.
Speaker Ahebwa Albert called for stronger coordination between technical staff and political leaders to ensure accountability and effective implementation of the budget.
Meanwhile, Mayor Asaba Edison Ruyonga pointed to ongoing infrastructure gains, including the construction of eight bridges and the acquisition of 21 land titles to safeguard public assets. He added that Shs1.2 billion has been allocated toward the construction of new council chambers, underscoring the city’s broader infrastructure development agenda.
The expanded budget as a step toward consolidating Fort Portal’s urban growth trajectory, though its impact will hinge on revenue performance and execution efficiency.