The Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Ramathan Ggoobi, has announced that beginning in the 2026/27 financial year, the Government of Uganda will no longer allocate funds for the organization of most national public celebrations, including major commemorative events such as Women’s Day, Labour Day, and Independence Day.
Dr. Ggoobi said the policy shift is aimed at reducing public expenditure and redirecting resources toward government priority sectors under the Agriculture, Tourism, Minerals and Science, Technology and Innovation (ATMS) agenda, as well as other key development enablers.
According to the Treasury chief, only a limited number of religious functions will continue to receive government financial support.
Under the new arrangement, national addresses that have traditionally accompanied public celebrations will largely be delivered by President Yoweri Museveni through radio and television broadcasts from State House instead of large-scale public events.
“The money saved from organizing these functions will be redirected to finance government priorities and accelerate socio-economic transformation,” Dr. Ggoobi reportedly explained.
The move is expected to significantly reduce expenditure on logistics, transport, accommodation, public mobilization, entertainment, and other costs associated with national celebrations.
Government officials argue that the savings can be better utilized in sectors that directly contribute to wealth creation, job generation, infrastructure development, and service delivery.
The decision marks one of the latest cost-cutting measures being implemented as government seeks to maximize the impact of public spending while supporting its long-term economic transformation agenda.
However, the announcement is likely to spark debate among stakeholders who view national commemorations as important opportunities for civic engagement, public recognition, and national unity.
Further details on how the new policy will be implemented and which religious events will remain government-funded are expected to be communicated by the relevant authorities.
