Gulu District Prioritises Education in 2026/27 Budget Estimates

Gulu District Local Government has allocated the largest share of its 2026/27 draft budget to the education and sports sector, indicating a strong focus on human capital development.

The district council approved the draft budget during its 6th session of the 11th council on Thursday, setting the total expenditure at 35.2 billion shillings, an increase from 33 billion Shillings in the 2025/26 financial year.

Presenting the budget, Vicky Atim, the Secretary for Administration, Finance, Planning and Investment, said the initial estimate of 35.71 billion Shillings was revised downward following the removal of 415 million Shillings that had been erroneously allocated to the Production Department under the climate-smart agriculture programme.

Under the approved allocations, the Administration Department received the second-largest share at 7.59 billion Shillings, followed by Health with 5.8 billion Shillings. The Production and Marketing Department was allocated 2.4 billion Shillings, while Roads and Engineering will receive 1.8 billion Shillings.

Other allocations include 933.4 million Shillings for Natural Resources Management, 907.1 million for Community-Based Services, 718.3 million for Water, 612 million Shillings for Council and Statutory Bodies, and 514.2 million Shillings for Finance. The Planning Unit was allocated 335 million Shillings, Trade and Industry 235 million, and Internal Audit 120 million Shillings.

Atim said the budget was prepared in line with the Local Government Act, the Public Finance Management Act, and other relevant regulations guiding local government budgeting processes. She noted that key priorities in the education sector will include improving school infrastructure, enhancing teachers’ welfare, and promoting inclusive education, particularly for learners with disabilities.

“Human capital development is critical in all aspects of life. As a district, we are prioritising education to ensure learners study in a conducive environment, with improved infrastructure, motivated teachers, and inclusive learning systems,” Atim said in an interview.

District Council Speaker Phoebe Ayoo presided over the approval, describing the process as the result of thorough deliberations by council members.

In the same sitting, the council also approved the implementation of a bylaw passed by Unyama Sub-county aimed at addressing food security, nutrition, and gender-related challenges. The bylaw, presented by Justine Torach, LCV Councillor for Unyama Sub-county and District Secretary for Social Services, seeks to tackle high levels of malnutrition in the area.

Torach said 28 per cent of children in the sub-county are malnourished, with seven per cent suffering from severe malnutrition, based on reports from Angaya Health Centre III. He attributed the situation to recurring food shortages, low agricultural productivity, and post-harvest losses estimated at 55 per cent. He also cited poor dietary diversity, affecting up to 67 per cent of households, as a key driver of both child and maternal malnutrition.

Torach said the bylaw is intended to make food security and nutrition a shared legal responsibility among households, schools, vendors, and community leaders, in order to promote accountability and behavioural change.

Balington P’ongwech, LCV Councillor for Bungatira Sub-county, commended Unyama’s leadership for the initiative and urged the district to consider adopting a similar framework as a district-wide ordinance. This marks the first time a sub-county in Gulu District has enacted a bylaw specifically targeting child and maternal malnutrition.