The Equal Opportunities Commission presented the Gender & Equity Compliance Assessment Report for the National Budget FY 2026/27, reinforcing its critical oversight role in promoting inclusive and equitable development.
The report was delivered by the Chairperson, Safia Nalule Juuko, to the Minister of Finance, Matia Kasaija. The assessment evaluates how well the national budget and ministerial policy statements align with gender and equity certification requirements.
Hon. Kasaija commended the Commission’s work, emphasizing that the assessment serves as a vital accountability tool under the Public Finance Management Act. He reaffirmed government’s commitment to ensuring that public resources are allocated in a way that drives inclusive growth and addresses long-standing structural inequalities.
According to Hon. Safia Nalule Juuko, overall compliance has shown steady progress, improving to 70% from 68% in the previous assessment. The national budget scored 67%, while ministerial policy statements averaged 70%, reflecting moderate but encouraging advancement.
However, the report highlights key challenges that continue to limit the full realization of equal opportunities. These include:
- Inadequate integration of regional equity concerns in planning and budgeting
- Failure by some Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to fully adhere to reservation schemes
The findings underscore the need for strengthened compliance, deeper inclusivity in planning, and more deliberate efforts to ensure that no region or population group is left behind in Uganda’s development agenda.
