The National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi has missed out on additional funding in the proposed 2026/27 budget, despite strong recommendations from the Presidential Affairs committee of Parliament.
The minister for the Presidency, Milly Babalanda, told journalists that several critical items under the Office of the President remain underfunded for the next financial year.
Appearing before the committee, Babalanda said the Office of the President requires additional resources to operate effectively, noting that several priority areas continue to face funding gaps.
Among the affected entities is the Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation (UPPC), which Parliament recommended should receive Shs 30 billion to modernise its operations. However, only Shs 15 billion has been allocated by the Ministry of Finance.
MPs observed that UPPC continues to rely on outdated machinery dating back to 1985, which has significantly undermined its efficiency and ability to meet growing national demand for printing services.
The committee said that with an additional Shs30 billion, UPPC would be able to acquire modern equipment and align its operations with current technology and production standards.
The report also highlighted inadequate office accommodation for Resident District Commissioners (RDCs). Of the 146 RDCs deployed across the country, 107 are housed in rented premises, 24 operate from district local government offices, and only 15 occupy offices constructed by the Office of the President.
Each of these offices has been built at a unit cost of Shs 700 million, with only one constructed per financial year since 2012/13.
The committee warned that the continued reliance on rented premises is unsustainable and recommended that at least five RDC offices be constructed annually to provide a long-term solution.
It further proposed that the Office of the President re-prioritise its retooling budget to fund at least one additional office, and that Shs 2 billion be availed to facilitate the construction of three more offices in the medium term.
However, no additional funding has been allocated to address this challenge.
The Office of the President had also requested Shs41bn to facilitate RDCs in monitoring government programmes such as UPE, USE, Operation Wealth Creation, and Emyooga. Only Shs36bn has been provided, leaving a funding gap of Shs5.657bn.
The presidential affairs committee, chaired by Flora Natumanya, warned that inadequate facilitation of RDCs weakens oversight of government programmes and contributes to poor service delivery.
Although the committee recommended that the funding gap be addressed, no additional resources were allocated.
The report further noted delays in supporting the Afro-Arab Youth Council International headquarters project, which requires Shs5.4bn for the acquisition of additional land.
The delay is raising concerns, especially as other partner countries have already begun implementing components such as the cultural heritage centre.
Meanwhile, the NALI at Kyankwanzi remains significantly underfunded.
The Office of the President had requested Shs 13 billion for its development, but only Shs 2billion has been allocated, leaving a funding gap of Shs 10.5 billion.
Planned interventions at the institute include renovation of accommodation blocks, construction of a 1,000-seat auditorium, refurbishment of three dilapidated buildings, and replacement of asbestos roofing.
The committee said these improvements are critical to creating an enabling environment for leadership training and national transformation.
