Katabi Town Council has convened its Budget Conference for FY 2027/2028 to set priorities for the next financial year, which is the second year of implementation of the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV).
The conference was held on Wednesday, 14th October 2026 at the Council Headquarters in Kitala under the theme: “Sustain and Accelerate Inclusive Economic Growth” and was attended by Busiro South MP Kenan Opio, Wakiso District Speaker Ibrahim Kazibwe, councillors, technical staff and representatives of 23 Cells from the 5 Wards of Kitala, Nkumba, Nalugala, Kabaale and Kisubi.
Town Clerk: Budget Conference About Community Ownership
Town Clerk Saudah Namala Kajubi said the conference is designed to gather community needs directly to ensure sustainability and ownership of projects.
“This budget conference aims to gather community needs so we can set priorities and allocate resources in our 2026-2027-2028 budget estimates. The community will own the projects,” Namala said.
“In this forum, we always tell the community what we’ve managed to implement in the financial year so far, challenges and what we expect to accomplish by the close of this year,” she added.
Namala commended residents for active participation from village to ward level and said feedback will be given under the Baraza programme on which priorities have been taken and which cannot be funded due to limited resources.
She thanked Government for funding under urban roads, DDEG, PDM and other programmes, and the community for local revenue that has delivered key projects.
“With locally raised revenue, we have constructed our administration block which is very good. Previously we were operating from Katabi in Entebbe Municipality. We appreciate our former LC1 and LC2 chairpersons who contributed part of their percentages to this structure,” she noted.
She said council has cleared land to relocate vendors from Kawuku Market to pave way for a modern market under GKMA-UDP, now at 98% completion.
For FY 2025/26, she listed achievements including grading of Community Access Roads in all 5 wards, procurement of 12 fire extinguishers and a generator for PDMIS operations, construction of a public latrine at Nkumba Primary School, fencing of Bugiri Public Primary School, verification and titling of Bemba Land in Kitala and Abaita Ababiri Market in Nkumba, and a 5-stance toilet at Nkumba.
She also cited progress on Agada Road in Kabaale Ward, Kitubulu area being upgraded to tarmac to reduce congestion on Entebbe Road, and improvements on Mugalula Road, Church Road, Bukaya Road, Banana Village Road and Kitala Prison Road using Road Fund and local revenue.
Challenges include delayed central government releases, poor community roads due to lack of own equipment, wetland encroachment and poor solid waste management in Kitala and Nkumba, low PDM repayment culture and encroachment on road reserves.
Lessons from DDP II, she said, compel the council to adopt LRR-First Planning where core budget does not depend on central government, verify assets before budgeting, demand Location Certificates signed by the Physical Planner and LC1, and separate refundable PDM from non-refundable Mayor’s Initiative.
“Without money, no roads. Protect government projects, separate politics from service delivery, and treat PDM as seed capital, not handouts,” she appealed.
Chairperson Kajura: Budget is a blueprint
Town Council Chairperson Frank Bwakya Kajura said the conference ensures accountability, transparency and inclusivity.
“Our budget is not just a financial document; it’s a blueprint for our community’s development. Your input will be invaluable in helping us make informed decisions about resource allocation,” Kajura said.
Six Issues for Ranking
The conference was asked to rank six proposals for FY 2027/28: increasing Goba Obwavu Ku Muluka from UGX 20M to 50M, selection of 5 schools for toilets, desks and classroom blocks, roads for murram-to-tarmac upgrade beyond JC Kiwanuka Road, completion of low-cost sealing of Kitala-Nalugala Road, gazetting of garbage collection points and installation of solar street lights in black spots.
The Town Council Economist, Peter Wasswa presented consolidated priorities from 23 cells: 71km+ of roads, 56+ culverts, 20 lights/cameras, 2 landing sites and 1 channel, plus 23 trainings annually on urban farming and horticulture, modernizing Bugabo and Kawuku markets, 23 PDM groups and SACCOs, elevation of Kitala Health Centre II to III, 3 new health centre requests and 320 three-seater desks for Bendegere, Kawuku, Bugiri-Bukasa, Bulega and Kabaale UMEA primary schools.
