Lira, Uganda | Lira City West Division Council has passed a UGX 4.1 billion budget for the Financial Year 2025/26, with a focus on sustainable industrialization, infrastructure development, and inclusive service delivery.
The budget, presented by Hon. Amolo Rose Ongom, Secretary for Finance, Planning, and Administration, and Lira City Mayor, was passed with amendments.
Amolo said the approved plan reflects the leadership’s commitment to improving the lives of the people while addressing the challenges brought by the expanded jurisdiction.
She emphasized that public health, works and transport, and education remain top priorities for the financial year.
The division expects to raise UGX 4.14 billion in revenue, with UGX 3.25 billion expected from local revenue sources.
Additional funding includes UGX 216 million under the Urban Discretionary Development Equalization Grant, UGX 90 million from the Urban Unconditional Grant, UGX 137 million in ex-gratia, UGX 435 million as a local revenue grant from the city (30% LC I & LC II), and UGX 12 million from private sector development allocations.
Expenditure priorities are spread across several sectors.
Finance and planning will receive UGX 2.28 billion, administration will take UGX 762 million, and UGX 330 million has been allocated to council and committee operations.
Public health is budgeted at UGX 198 million, while UGX 60 million has been earmarked for education and sports. Works and transport infrastructure will receive UGX 137 million.
Other notable allocations include UGX 1.63 billion in transfers to Lira City and UGX 437 million to support local councils.
However, the budget has stirred public debate, particularly over the UGX 160 million earmarked for the purchase of a double cabin pickup for administration.
Some residents argue that the funds would be more impactful if redirected to address the pressing shortage of classrooms and the expansion of health facilities.
They point out that pupils continue to sit on bare floors and that many health centers are under-equipped.
The division’s financial outlook is further challenged by a decline in revenue sources.
Park user fee collections have drastically reduced from UGX 540 million in the 2015/16 financial year to just UGX 30 million annually.
Additionally, the heavy reliance on the Integrated Revenue Administration System (IRAS) for local revenue generation has raised concerns about long-term financial sustainability.
Lira City West Speaker Hon. Daniel Okello said the approved budget is a step toward transformative development.
He stated that focusing on health, education, and infrastructure will help ensure sustainable growth and improved service delivery.
Okello urged all stakeholders to support the council’s efforts to meet the growing needs of the newly expanded division, which now includes the former Adyel Division, Ojwina Division, and Lira Sub-county.
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