By Anzoo Evaline.

Adjumani Town Council has held its annual budget conference on 5th November 2025, during which leaders approved the Revenue and Expenditure Budget for the Financial Year 2026/2027, signaling a renewed commitment to improving service delivery and strengthening local revenue management.

The budget discussion, attended by council members, technical officers, and representatives from various community sectors, Implementing Partners, highlighted both the achievements and gaps experienced in the previous financial year. According to figures presented during the conference, the council projected total revenue of Shs. 1,532,987,887, comprising: Local Revenue of Shs. 1,017,530,083 (66.4%); Government Grants of Shs. 514,987,804 (33.6%) and other revenues of Shs. 1,532,987,887 (100%)

On the expenditure side, the council approved a total of Shs. 50,885,933 for key operations, reflecting strategic allocation towards departments that directly influence town management and community welfare.

The major areas of focus for key priorities for FY 2026/2027 aim at enhancing efficiency, improving office functionality, and boosting revenue collection.

Eriku Patrick Keleture, the acting Town Clerk, emphasized that the upcoming financial year will focus heavily on strengthening local revenue systems, ensuring compliance among businesses, and improving the working environment for staff.

The procurement of a new motorcycle and repair of existing ones was particularly highlighted as a strategic investment to improve fieldwork efficiency, enabling revenue officers to reach more areas within the council for mobilization and sensitization.

“The proposed budget uh for next financial year is 1,017,530,083. That stands at 66.4%. And we have some government grants and on the revenue sources, there are very many such as local hotel tax, local service tax, we have the gate collection fee from the markets, the taxi parks, Leisure Park, Market lock ups, property Tax and many more”, said the Town Clerk.

Dipio Santa, an Accounts Assistant attached to Adjumani Town council highlighted the achievements and the challenges of the town council during revenue mobilization.

“The key achievements in finance department includes the following: prepared and submitted final accounts to the office of auditor general, the taxpayers register and assessments are ongoing. The Local revenue for last financial year was collected despite other challenges about 65% was collected. We procured two laptop computers and one colored printer,” Santa said.

She noted that “Despite our collection for last financial year, we have other challenges as finance department which includes the following insufficiency funds for completion of council plan activities, outstanding lock up rent, which is one of our sources of revenue, staffing gap, lack of transport for revenue mobilization as said by my supervisor”.

She added “We have mobile hawkers; they are threat to our traders. Net turnover of business closer is also increasing. The introduction of new method of collecting revenue using in integrated revenue administrative system that is the IRAS. By the government is still a challenge to our taxpayers, especially bank charges. Like when you generate payment reference number to a trader and you tell the person to go and pay, the bank charge itself is on the trader, not on the council’s money”.

Santa therefore recommendations for “Vigorous revenue mobilization Enforcement of all tax defaulters we recommend for recruitment of the remaining account staff, enforcement of district security committee, directives on mobile hawkers and coding in Adjumani district,”.

Leaders also underscored the importance of continued community engagement, noting that effective revenue generation depends on citizen cooperation and understanding of council programs.

Hon. Mangapi Lawrence, the Town Mayor, applauded the team for the collaborative spirit shown during the budgeting process. He noted that while revenue collections have been steadily improving, the new financial year will demand even more innovation to ensure sustainability and timely execution of projects.

“Mind is to appreciate all of you for sacrificing your time which you’re supposed to use to do something to help family but you decided to spend it with us which I can’t take it for granted because clearly shows team work,” said Mangapi.

He further assured residents that the approved budget reflects the town council’s commitment to transparency and prioritizing expenditures that directly benefit the community.

“Today’s activity is a clear reflection of the council’s committee, meaning that we have been working and we shall continue to work,” he stressed.

With the FY 2026/2027 budget now approved, Adjumani Town Council is set for another year of targeted development interventions aimed at enhancing urban management and improving the quality of life for residents under the theme “Full monetization of Uganda’s economy through commercial agriculture, industrialization, expanding and broadening services, digital transformation and market access.

END.