The government has announced that it will stop spending public funds on organising most national celebration events as part of efforts to cut expenditure and redirect resources to priority programmes.
According to Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Dr Ramathan Ggoobi, government-funded commemorations such as International Women’s Day, Labour Day, Heroes Day and Independence Day will no longer be organised using public money starting in the 2026/27 financial year.
Speaking about the government’s ongoing expenditure reforms, Dr Ggoobi said the move is intended to reduce unnecessary spending and ensure that more resources are channelled towards key development priorities.
He explained that public holidays will continue to be observed, but without the costly national events that have traditionally accompanied them. Instead, President Yoweri Museveni will deliver his messages to the country through radio and television broadcasts from State House.
“We are not going to spend money organizing public functions for national celebrations. The President will communicate to Ugandans through radio and television from State House, and the resources saved will be redirected to priority government programmes,” Dr Ggoobi said.
The Treasury chief noted that the government is focusing on spending discipline and efficiency, adding that funds previously allocated to large-scale celebrations can be better utilised in sectors that directly benefit citizens.
However, he clarified that not all public events will lose government support. Some religious functions considered essential by the state will continue to receive public funding.
Ggoobi explained that only a limited number of religious functions deemed essential by government will continue receiving public funding.
