KASESE – Central Division in Kasese Municipality is setting its sights on an ambitious fiscal expansion, with officials proposing to raise the division’s budget from Shs 1.1 billion to Shs 1.5 billion for the 2027-2028 financial year.
The proposal was unveiled during a budget conference, which brought together local leaders and stakeholders to deliberate on priorities for the upcoming fiscal cycle.
Kamungaro Faisal, the Town Clerk of Central Division, stated that the proposed increase reflects the division’s growth and the expanding need for improved service delivery. However, he cautioned that reaching this target will require a robust effort in tax collection.
He further cited challenges they face in tax collection where he said many landlords are still failing to adhere to property and rental income tax.
During the conference, stakeholders and leaders voiced various priorities for the upcoming budget. Baluku Balam, the LC III Chairperson for Central Division, emphasized that improving local markets is at the top of their agenda. He argued that modernizing these facilities is essential to boosting revenue collection, which will in turn fund broader service delivery improvements.
Other leaders highlighted specific community concerns that they hope will be incorporated into the final budget. Jafali Kigutia, the LC I Chairperson for Base Camp Lower, raised urgent concerns regarding infrastructure, pointing to the critical need for new drainage channels to manage water flow in his area.
Education remains a central focus for others, with Kiiza Wilson of Katadoba advocating for a significant investment in the sector. Specifically, Kiiza called for efforts to uplift education standards at Murongoti Primary School, citing it as a top priority for his community.
The conference also served as a platform for councillors from Railway Ward to express deep anxieties regarding ongoing land tensions. Councillors decried the impending evictions by the Uganda Railway Corporation, noting that many residents are living in fear, unsure of where they will relocate.
Furthermore, they highlighted a pressing disaster management crisis, explaining that floodwaters from Kasese town frequently surge into their area, inundating homes and threatening property.
As the division moves forward with its budget planning, the challenge for the administration will be balancing these diverse infrastructure, social, and humanitarian needs against the necessity of securing the revenue required to fund them.
