The Ugandan government has announced that it will stop allocating public funds for the organisation of national holiday celebrations, including Women’s Day, Labour Day, and Independence Day, beginning in the 2026/27 financial year.
The announcement was made on Sunday by the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Dr. Ramathan Ggoobi, who said the decision forms part of ongoing fiscal consolidation efforts aimed at reducing non-essential public expenditure.
Dr. Ramathan Ggoobi said government spending will be redirected toward priority areas such as health services, education, and infrastructure development as part of broader budget reforms.
For decades, Uganda has financed national commemorations of key public holidays through the central government budget, with events featuring official ceremonies, military parades, cultural performances, and nationwide mobilisation coordinated by various state institutions.
These celebrations have also carried significant cost implications, particularly in logistics, security deployment, staging infrastructure, and coordination across districts.
Under the new arrangement, government expects future celebrations to be financed through alternative mechanisms such as private sector sponsorships and partnerships with development agencies and other stakeholders. However, detailed implementation guidelines have not yet been issued.
The policy shift is expected to trigger national discussion on the role of state funding in public celebrations and the preservation of national identity through civic events.
Further details are expected in upcoming budget framework papers ahead of implementation in the 2026/27 financial year.
