Uganda: public finances

How big is Uganda's budget for 2026/27?

Uganda's budget for 2026/27 totals Shs 84.39 trillion, Shs 2.78 trillion more than the revised Shs 81.61 trillion for 2025/26, according to the Budget Speech delivered on 11 June 2026.

Domestic revenue is expected to provide Shs 45.96 trillion, including Shs 40.16 trillion of tax and Shs 1.44 trillion of petroleum revenue. Borrowing and refinancing make up most of the rest, including Shs 13.97 trillion to refinance domestic debt that falls due. On the spending side, wages and salaries take Shs 9.709 trillion, other recurrent spending Shs 33.276 trillion and development spending Shs 22.054 trillion. Because the total includes debt refinancing, it is larger than what is spent on services.

Official sources: Ministry of Finance: Budget Speech FY2026/27 · Ministry of Finance: Budget Speech page

How much debt does Uganda have?

Uganda's total public debt was US$37.12 billion at the end of June 2026, up from US$32.30 billion a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Finance's Annual Debt Statistical Bulletin, June 2026. That was 54.3% of GDP, up from 51.3%.

Domestic debt made up 56.1% of the total (Shs 76,323.43 billion) and external debt 43.9% (Shs 59,740.43 billion). Interest payments rose from 4.4% to 4.9% of GDP. Domestic debt costs more: its weighted average interest rate was 14.2%, against 2.3% for external debt. The bulletin uses UBOS's preliminary GDP estimate for 2025/26.

Official sources: Ministry of Finance: Annual Debt Statistical Bulletin, June 2026 · Ministry of Finance: debt bulletin page

What is Uganda's budget deficit?

Uganda's fiscal deficit was Shs 12,417.4 billion in 2025/26, or 5.1% of GDP, according to the Bank of Uganda's Monetary Policy Report of August 2026. That was below the earlier projection of 7.0%, largely because some development projects were not fully carried out.

The report expects the deficit to widen to 5.7% of GDP in 2026/27 and then fall to 3.4% by 2030/31. Domestic sources financed 87.9% of the 2025/26 deficit. Monthly figures are in the Ministry of Finance's Performance of the Economy report: in August 2026 the deficit was Shs 708.85 billion, against a planned Shs 257.62 billion.

Official sources: Bank of Uganda: Monetary Policy Report, August 2026 · Ministry of Finance: Performance of the Economy, August 2026

How much tax does Uganda collect?

Total government revenue, including grants, was Shs 37,088.4 billion in 2025/26, Shs 2,703.0 billion short of target, according to the Bank of Uganda's Monetary Policy Report of August 2026. The shortfall came mainly from lower grants and non-tax revenue.

In August 2026, total revenue was Shs 2,895.82 billion, 87.8% of the monthly target, according to the Ministry of Finance's Performance of the Economy report. The 2026/27 budget expects domestic revenue of Shs 45.6 trillion, equal to 15.9% of GDP, up from Shs 35.7 trillion in 2025/26. Monthly figures are preliminary.

Official sources: Bank of Uganda: Monetary Policy Report, August 2026 · Ministry of Finance: Performance of the Economy, August 2026

What is Uganda's government debt?

The latest figure from the IMF, for 2025, is 53.2% of GDP. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 53.0% of GDP, and Uganda placed 22nd highest of 46. World rank, highest first: 92nd of 185.

Does Uganda's government borrow more than it raises?

The latest figure from the IMF, for 2025, is -6.6% of GDP (a deficit). Since 2005 it has ranged from -7.8% of GDP (2020) to -0.2% of GDP (2005). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was -3.0% of GDP, and Uganda placed 43rd highest of 47. Of 188 countries with 2025 data, 166th highest.

What is Uganda's government revenue?

The IMF puts general government revenue in Uganda at 15.0% of GDP in 2025. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 18.4% of GDP, and Uganda placed 33rd highest of 47. Worldwide: 164th of 187.

How big is Uganda's government spending as a share of GDP?

According to the IMF, general government spending in Uganda was 21.6% of GDP in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from 11.8% of GDP (2009) to 22.0% of GDP (2021). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 20.8% of GDP, and Uganda placed 22nd highest of 46. Of 186 countries with 2025 data, 134th highest.

What is tax revenue in Uganda?

According to the IMF, central government tax revenue in Uganda was 12.6% of GDP in 2024. The peak was 13.0% of GDP in 2023 and the low 10.8% of GDP in 2015. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 14.1% of GDP; Uganda is 10th highest of 16. Worldwide: 72nd of 92.

What is Uganda's military budget as a share of GDP?

SIPRI puts military spending in Uganda at 2.0% of GDP in 2025. The peak was 2.5% of GDP in 2011 and the low 0.9% of GDP in 2014. It is 12th highest of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 1.3% of GDP. Worldwide: 63rd of 149.