By David Rupiny
The Uganda National Budget 2026/26 spells out areas where government resources will increasingly be invested and where more opportunities will be created.
The 2026/27 National Budget gives top most priority to the ATMS sectors:
Agro-Industrialisation Priorities:
A total of Shs 2.26 trillion has been allocated to the agro-industrialisation programme. This is the highest allocation ever to this programme.
Priority interventions include: Agricultural research and innovation, with funding for anti-tick vaccine commercialisation; Irrigation and water for production; Extension services – more extension workers facilitation to reach farmers; Provision of good quality agricultural inputs; Post-harvest handling and storage; Agro-processing and value addition; Quality assurance and certification; and Expanding market access.
Priorities for Tourism Development:
Government has allocated Shs 567.32 billion to continue developing the tourism sector next financial year.
Priority interventions include: Branding and marketing of Uganda as a tourism and investment destination; Tourism infrastructure development; Construction of highway sanitation facilities and tourism site refreshment centres.
Others are: Improving and enforcing hospitality standards and training; Conservation and wildlife protection to increase wildlife population across the National Parks; Health tourism; and Economic and Commercial Diplomacy.
Priorities for Minerals, Oil and Gas:
Shs 473.51 billion has been allocated for mineral-based industrial development, mining, and oil and gas.
Priority areas include: Continued mineral exploration, quantification and certification; Continue capitalisation of the Uganda National Mining Company; Establishment of mineral markets and buying centres; Operationalisation of East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP); and Development of the oil refinery.
Priorities for Science, Technology, and Innovation, including ICT and Creatives:
Shs 1.140 trillion has been provided in the new Budget for Science, Technology and Innovation, ICT and the creative industries.
The priorities next financial year include: Commercialisation of innovations, especially Kiira Motors vehicles, coffee, Dei BioPharma drugs and vaccines, and banana products; Establishment of a Hi-Tech City; Additional investment in scientific research (R&D) and innovation.
Other priorities are: Expansion of digital infrastructure to increase coverage, reliability and affordability of internet, Government services and e-commerce and Growth of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) for job creation.
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