By Bazio Doreen—Adjumani District.

Adjumani District Local government has approved a UGX 49,372,995,000 budget for Financial Year 2025/2026 during its sixth ordinary council sitting held on Thursday, 29^th May 2025, at the District Council Hall.

This is down from the UGX 50,599,454,000/= budget for Financial Year 2024/2025 that ends on June 30th, 2025. The budget for the next financial year is based on the theme ‘Full monetization of Uganda’s economy through commercial agriculture, industrialization, expanding and broadening services, digital transformation, and market access.”

The sitting was chaired by Hon. Oloya Jackson Otim, the District Speaker, who reminded the Honorable District Councilors that the budget would be approved in line with the priorities in the District Development Plan IV.

“This is a mandatory meeting. I don’t expect a lot of debate and arguments because the budget is in line with what the district has prioritized in the next five years. I have been informed that the first draft of the DDP IV has been submitted to NPA,” Hon. Oloya informed the Honorable Councilors.

While presenting the budget estimates, Hon. Adrupio Irene Appi, the Secretary for Finance, informed the Honorable councilors that the Education and Health sectors will take a lion’s share in the budget. She highlighted the budget estimates for the departments as UGX 17,235,859,847/= for Education, UGX 17,147,219,823/= for Health, UGX 6,317,961,637/= for Administration, UGX 530,925,700/= for Finance, UGX 756,349,677/= for Council and Statutory Bodies, UGX 2,362,606,707/= for Production and Marketing, UGX 1,729,145,000/= for Roads and Engineering, UGX 685,125,239/= for Water, UGX 698,570,742/=, UGX 976,333,639/= for Community Based Services, UGX 677,353,913/= for Planning, UGX 109,360,698/= for Internal Audit, and UGX 146,188,340/= for Trade, Industry, and Local Economic Development. The district also plans to utilize UGX 3,087,554,487/= to recruit staff to fill 166 positions

Hon. Adrupio also said that the total budget would be financed through UGX 2,647,558,000/= from Locally Raised Revenues, UGX 3,958,787,000/= from discretionary government transfers, UGX 37,954,950,000/= from conditional government transfers, UGX 941,537,000/= from other government transfers, and UGX 3,870,163,000/= from external financing. She further noted that the resource envelope was mainly attributed to a reduction in external financing.

“Mr. Speaker, our budget has mainly been reduced due to the closure of projects like DRDIP, and USMID-AF. UNHCR has also reduced its budget to the district by 20%,” Hon. Adrupio said.

On his part, Hon. Anyama Ben, the District Chairperson, refuted claims that the district wouldn’t benefit from USMID-AF II, because of delays in the road construction in Adjumani Town Council by Rock Trust Contractors Limited.

“The USMID-AF road in Adjumani Town Council is progressing well and will be completed soon. The last option is already being worked on. Let me see what else you will say when the road is complete and phase II commences,” Hon. Anyama said.

Hon. Anyama also informed the Speaker that the district leadership is investigating claims that roadblocks have been set up in Itirikwa, Ukusijoni, and Pakele Sub Counties by the UPDF who are not only collecting illegal taxes from the movement of goods, animals, and services but also defiling and raping young girls.

On the other hand, Hon. Mau Gabriel Kodili, the Chairperson of the Finance Standing Committee, also informed the august house that in a joint committee meeting for scrutinizing the budget, it was resolved that the council hall be decorated with a wall of fame with the portraits of notable personalities from the district and District Local Councilors for the regime 2021-2026. 

“We want to do something unique during our term of office. We want the people in the future to remember us and those that have done a lot for the progress and growth of this district,” Hon. Kodili explained.

However, while making his concluding remarks, Okware Emmanuel, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner, warned the councilors against campaigning before the Electoral Commission permits them to do so as per the election road map.

“I implore you to remain calm. There is no need for unnecessary processions before campaigns are launched. You saw what happened in the Kawempe North by-election. Don’t do things that will make you lose your seat prematurely,” Okware warned.

On the roadblocks by UPDF, Okware noted that these will be discussed in the next District Security Committee meeting together with the Presidential directive to evict balaalos from West Nile.

The Speaker and the Clerk to Council