Annual National budget of Uganda since Independence

Annual National budget of Uganda since Independence

A complete, year-by-year record of Uganda’s national budget figures from independence (1962) to 2026 is not fully available in one continuous public source. However, this is a summary of the officially documented trends and figures from government releases, IMF and World Bank archives, and Ministry of Finance budget statements across major periods. Below is a factual, decade-by-decade outline, highlighting key budget figures and the economic context behind them.

1960s: Foundation and Post-Independence Expansion

1962/63 Budget: Approx. UGX 280 million (equivalent to USD 78 million then). Focused on education, agriculture, and administration.

1965/66: Budget rose to UGX 450 million, driven by export revenues from coffee and cotton.

1969/70: About UGX 700 million, with 30% directed to development projects.

The economy was stable and self-sustaining, with agriculture contributing over 65% of GDP.

1970s: Economic Decline Under Idi Amin

1971/72: National budget around UGX 1.2 billion, but inflation and shortages began.

1975/76: Reached UGX 3.6 billion, fuelled by uncontrolled spending and military expenditure.

1978/79: Budget estimates stood at UGX 5.2 billion, though actual implementation was erratic due to economic collapse and war.

By the end of the decade, Uganda’s GDP had contracted by more than 35%, and tax revenue had almost halved.

1980s: Recovery and Fiscal Reforms

1980/81: UGX 13 billion, with over half financed by foreign aid.

1986/87 (NRM Government’s first full budget): UGX 46.4 billion

1989/90: UGX 133 billion, with strong IMF and World Bank support for structural adjustment.

Inflation fell from triple digits in the early 1980s to below 30% by decade’s end as reforms took hold.

1990s: Stabilization and Growth

1990/91: UGX 270 billion

1995/96: UGX 990 billion, with rapid growth from improved tax administration.

1999/2000: UGX 1.8 trillion, reflecting expansion under the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP).

Average GDP growth exceeded 6.9% per year, one of Africa’s strongest at the time.

2000s: Investment in Education and Infrastructure

2000/01: UGX 2 trillion

2005/06: UGX 3.3 trillion

2009/10: UGX 5.5 trillion

Major priorities included Universal Primary/Secondary Education (UPE/USE), healthcare, and infrastructure restoration.

Revenue-to-GDP ratio increased to 13%, thanks to reforms under the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).

2010s: Large-Scale Infrastructure Spending

2010/11: UGX 7.5 trillion

2013/14: UGX 13 trillion

2016/17: UGX 26 trillion

2018/19: UGX 32.7 trillion

Government spending increasingly targeted energy, transport, and industrial park development. Public debt, however, rose steadily, reaching about 41% of GDP by 2019.

2020s: Recovery, COVID-19 Response, and Fiscal Expansion

2020/21: UGX 45.5 trillion — COVID-19 mitigation dominated allocations.

2021/22: UGX 44.7 trillion, emphasizing economic recovery and health.

2022/23: UGX 48.1 trillion, with major pushes in agro-industrialization and road projects.

2023/24: UGX 52.7 trillion, largest ever at the time.

2024/25: UGX 72.1 trillion, as GDP growth reached 6.3%.

2025/26 (proposed): UGX 69.4 trillion, focusing on debt control, domestic revenue, and social programs.

Current projections (per the Ministry of Finance) aim to grow GDP to UGX 290.2 trillion (USD 76.7 billion) by FY 2026/27.

Summary Table: Uganda’s Budget Through the Years

Uganda’s national budget has grown from UGX 280 million at independence to nearly UGX 70 trillion today—a 250,000-fold increase. Much of this growth reflects inflation, a larger economy, and deeper domestic revenue collection. Yet, fiscal challenges remain: rising public debt, limited export diversification, and the need to align expenditures with productivity.

For verified and current updates, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) publishes annual budget summaries at www.finance.go.ug.