Arua City Council

Arua City Council Approves UGX 58.3 Billion Budget for FY 2026/2027

Arua City Council has officially approved a budget of UGX 58.38 billion for the Financial Year 2026/2027, marking a significant step toward enhancing service delivery and socio-economic transformation in the city.

The budget was passed today during a council session held at City Hall, with a strong focus on improving key sectors such as education, health, and infrastructure.

According to the approved estimates, the largest share of the budget—UGX 50.37 billion, representing 82.3 percent will be financed through central government transfers. Meanwhile, UGX 8.01 billion (13.7 percent) is expected to be generated locally, reflecting the city’s ongoing efforts to strengthen domestic revenue mobilization.

The education sector received the largest allocation, taking UGX 26.54 billion (45.5 percent) of the total budget. This allocation underscores the council’s commitment to improving education infrastructure, access, and quality across the city.

Other major allocations include:

Administration: UGX 8.06 billion (13.8%)

Health: UGX 6.82 billion (11.7%)

Works and Technical Services: UGX 6.54 billion (11.2%)

Other critical sectors such as statutory bodies, production, finance, natural resources, trade and industry, physical planning, planning and projects, and audit also received funding to support overall city operations and development.

To strengthen decentralized service delivery, the council allocated UGX 3.5 billion to Central Division and UGX 1.56 billion to Ayivu Division. These funds are expected to improve service accessibility and efficiency at the grassroots level.

In addition to the budget, the council approved several key planning documents to guide development over the coming years. These include the City Five-Year Development Plan, Institutional Strengthening Plan, Revenue Enhancement Plan, Strategic Plan for Statistics, and the Tax Rates/Charges and Appeals Procedure.

Arua City Council Lays UGX 58.3 Billion Budget for FY 2026/2027

Arua City Council has today laid a proposed budget of UGX 58,381,443,883 for the Financial Year 2026/2027 during a council session held at City Hall.

According to the budget framework, UGX 50,370,530,859 (82.3%) will be financed through Central Government transfers, while UGX 8,010,913,024 (13.7%) is expected to be generated from locally raised revenue.

The Education sector takes the largest share of the budget, receiving UGX 26,538,800,014 (45.5%), reflecting the city’s strong focus on improving education services. Administration follows with UGX 8,055,799,144 (13.8%), while the Health sector has been allocated UGX 6,817,782,178 (11.7%).

Works and Technical Services will receive UGX 6,541,863,992 (11.2%), highlighting ongoing investments in infrastructure and urban development. Other allocations include Statutory Bodies at UGX 1,387,544,935 (2.4%), Production at UGX 935,785,347 (1.6%), and Finance at UGX 797,549,299 (1.4%).

Other sectors such as Natural Resources (UGX 641,207,208), Trade and Industry (UGX 241,015,477), Physical Planning (UGX 225,000,000), and Audit (UGX 169,858,900) also received funding to support sustainable urban management and economic growth.

To strengthen service delivery at lower administrative levels, UGX 3,502,222,206 has been allocated to Central Division, while UGX 1,565,250,702 will go to Ayivu Division.

The 2026/2027 budget will be implemented under the theme: “Full monetization of Uganda’s economy through commercialization of agriculture, industrialization, digitalization, and market access.”

City leaders expressed optimism that the budget will accelerate socio-economic transformation, improve public services, and enhance livelihoods of residents.

The budget now awaits scrutiny and approval by Council before the start of the new financial year.

ENFORCEMENT NOTICE

Ayivu Division will begin full enforcement of Trade Order regulations on Monday, 23rd March 2026.

From this date:

No business operations will be permitted on streets, walkways, or road reserves.

Enforcement teams will be deployed to ensure full compliance with the law.

All traders, boda-boda riders, vendors, transport operators, and business owners are hereby urged to cooperate with city authorities by relocating to designated and lawful business locations.

This exercise is not punitive, but rather intended to promote order, safety, and dignity within our city.

Let us all work together to keep Arua City clean, organized, and safe.

ENFORCEMENT NOTICE

Ayivu Division will begin full enforcement of Trade Order regulations on Monday, 23rd March 2026.

From this date:

No business operations will be permitted on streets, walkways, or road reserves.

Enforcement teams will be deployed to ensure full compliance with the law.

All traders, boda-boda riders, vendors, transport operators, and business owners are hereby urged to cooperate with city authorities by relocating to designated and lawful business locations.

This exercise is not punitive, but rather intended to promote order, safety, and dignity within our city.

Let us all work together to keep Arua City clean, organized, and safe.

PUBLIC NOTICE

AYIVU DIVISION TRADE ORDER ENFORCEMENT COMMENCES MONDAY, 23RD MARCH 2026

Arua City has over the past week conducted extensive sensitization of all stakeholders regarding the forthcoming enforcement of Trade Order regulations. This initiative is aimed at restoring order, reducing congestion, improving sanitation, and enhancing safety on our roads and walkways.

The City leadership has observed a growing number of illegal business operations being conducted on streets, walkways, road reserves, and other undesignated public spaces. This has resulted in disorder, increased risk of accidents, and poor hygiene conditions, which cannot be allowed to persist.

In accordance with the Public Health Act (Cap 281), Local Governments Act (Cap 243), Roads Act (2019), and Physical Planning Act (2010), it is illegal to conduct business activities in road reserves, walkways, and other non-designated areas. Enforcement of the Trade Order is therefore mandatory to ensure a clean, safe, and well-organized city.

Division Town Clerks previously issued formal communication to LC1 Chairpersons and Principal Town Agents, particularly in urban growth centres, directing that all traders operating illegally must relocate to designated areas. These include gazetted markets, shops, and rented business premises. A two-week grace period was granted effective 13th February 2026 to allow for orderly and voluntary compliance.

Throughout this week, Ayivu Division has carried out intensified sensitization campaigns across all cells, with particular focus on urban growth centres. Leaders engaged directly with traders, transport operators, and business owners, informing them that the grace period has now elapsed and enforcement will commence.

Child Protection Stakeholders Hold Quarterly Review Meeting

A Child Protection Quarterly Review Meeting is currently underway at Crane Resort, bringing together key stakeholders working to strengthen child protection systems.

The meeting aims to review progress, share experiences, and develop a comprehensive work plan aligned with the five pillars of the National Child Policy 2020.

Participants include city leadership from Arua, child protection partners, the Family and Child Protection Unit of the Uganda Police Force, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), opinion leaders, and other stakeholders.

Participants are focusing on strategies to improve coordination among institutions, enhance service delivery, and ensure that child protection interventions effectively respond to the needs of children and families within communities.

The review is expected to guide stakeholders in aligning their activities with national priorities while strengthening collaborative efforts to safeguard the rights and welfare of children.

Arua City Emerges as Benchmark for Inclusive Urban Development

The Third SUIDAC Regional Dialogue is underway at Protea Hotel Kampala, bringing together mayors, technical teams, CBOs, refugee-led organizations, line ministries, partners and donors from nine cities across the region.

Participating cities and municipalities of Arua and Koboko in Uganda; Assossa and Jigjiga in Ethiopia; Gabiley and Borama in Somaliland; Tshikapa and Kananga in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and Atbara in Sudan, are sharing practical solutions to strengthen sustainable urban development and support Displacement Affected Communities (DACs).

The Sustainable Urban Integration for Displacement Affected Communities (SUIDAC) project aims to strengthen the capacity of secondary cities to promote inclusive, resilient and sustainable urban development by improving infrastructure, expanding local economic opportunities, and fostering social cohesion between displaced and host communities.

During the plenary session, the Mayor of Arua City, Wadri Sam Nyakua, highlighted how SUIDAC has bridged the gap between limited government resources and urgent community needs in Arua and Koboko improving infrastructure, enhancing skills training, and strengthening collaboration between host and displaced communities.

Arua’s Carnegie A1 Market model continues to inspire replication, with Jigjiga already applying lessons learned to support DACs and boost local revenue.

Currently, Arua City is implementing approximately UGX 3 billion under the SUIDAC project, further demonstrating its strong commitment to inclusive urban transformation.

As urban expansion accelerates, secondary cities are emerging as powerful engines of inclusive growth, resilience and regional stability.

Arua City Council Renews Term of City Service Commission, Applauds Integrity and Performance

The City Council has today, 2nd March 2026, approved the renewal of the term of office of the Arua City Service Commission following the expiry of its mandate on 28th February 2026.

The renewal was effected in accordance with Section 59(2) of the , which outlines the functions of the Service Commission and provides for the extension of its term within three months after expiry. The approval by Council will be submitted for final approval to Public Service Commission as required by law.

During the council sitting, councillors commended the City Service Commission for its integrity, professionalism, and commitment to merit-based recruitment. The Commission was recently ranked fourth best performing in the country, a milestone that members of Council described as a testament to transparency, accountability, and strict adherence to established procedures.

Council further noted that the Commission is currently undertaking recruitment to fill critical staffing gaps within the City Administration. Arua City has a wage bill of UGX 1.6 billion that must be utilised before the close of the financial year. The timely renewal therefore ensures continuity in the ongoing recruitment process, safeguards the proper absorption of the wage allocation, and prevents disruption in service delivery.

The members whose terms have been renewed are:

Ajio Night – Chairperson

Anguyo Roy Richard – Member

Ayuma Munib – Member

Drani S.K. Johnson – Member

Meanwhile, the term of Tiperu Grace, the fifth member of the Commission, remains valid as she joined mid-term to replace a deceased member.

The City Service Commission serves a four-year term before expiry of office. Council reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening institutional performance, ensuring efficient utilisation of public funds, and maintaining continuity in lawful and orderly administrative processes for the benefit of the people of Arua City.

In a powerful display of visionary leadership and unity, the Mayors of Arua City and Koboko Municipality have pledged to personally mentor their incoming successors. This was revealed today in a Sustainable Urban Intergration for Displacement Affected Communities (SUIDAC) meeting at Hunter's Nest in Arua city where the incoming Mayors also participated.

With a firm commitment to seamless service delivery and sustained regional transformation, they have vowed to guide the new Mayors every step of the way — from now until they are sworn in, and even beyond.

Their message is simple yet profound: “Our support will always be available whenever our successors need counsel or direction.”

This is the spirit that builds legacies, inspires confidence, and drives lasting growth for our region.

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
The Ministry of Education & Sports in partnership with Enabel Uganda has convened a strategic Tourism Workshop bringing together Tourism Officers, cultural institutions, and key stakeholders from across West Nile to unlock the region’s vast tourism and hospitality potential for youth employment.

Hosted at Nyipir & Labongo Hotel, overlooking the breathtaking landscape near Murchison Falls National Park, the 3-day workshop kicked off on Tuesday with a clear focus: positioning Tourism and Hospitality as a driver of sustainable jobs and economic growth in West Nile.

Participants are developing:
A draft profile of potential tourism sites across all West Nile districts
A roadmap for site development and job creation
Strategic plans for destination branding and promotion

Key areas of focus include: • Destination Branding
• Investment Attraction Strategies
• Marketing & Advertising Approaches

The Alur Kingdom is represented by the Minister of Tourism & Hospitality, Hon. Juliet Umika Oromcan, who also serves with the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority as Pakuba Airfield Supervisor within the park.

Facilitating the workshop is Enabel, the Belgian Agency for Development Cooperation, working closely with the Ministry of Education and Sports to strengthen institutional capacity and advance skills development across sectors including Tourism and Hospitality.

West Nile is rising and tourism is taking center stage in shaping a future of opportunity for our youth.

Arua City Council is currently in session to deliberate on key committee reports that will shape service delivery and development in the city.

The Council is reviewing reports from the following standing committees:

Finance, Planning and Administration Committee; focusing on budgeting, revenue performance, financial management, and administrative matters.

Social Services Committee; addressing issues related to education, health, community development, and social welfare.

Works and Technical Services Committee; discussing infrastructure development including roads, drainage systems, street lighting, and urban planning.

Production, Natural Resources, Trade and Tourism Committee; handling matters concerning agriculture, environmental management, trade promotion, and tourism development.

These deliberations are critical in guiding policy decisions, strengthening oversight, and ensuring effective implementation of programs aimed at improving service delivery for the people of Arua City.

Fort Portal City Benchmarks on Local Revenue Excellence in Arua

The technical team from Fort Portal City is in Arua City for a learning visit aimed at benchmarking best practices in local revenue mobilisation and performance.

Arua City is currently ranked among the best performing local governments in Uganda in local revenue collections. In the last financial year, the city registered an impressive collection of over UGX 6.5 billion, reflecting strong financial management systems, improved enforcement mechanisms, stakeholder engagement, and enhanced revenue monitoring strategies.

The Fort Portal technical team is currently being engaged on innovations, compliance strategies, and accountability measures that have contributed to this milestone. Key discussions are focusing on revenue sources, digitalization, taxpayer sensitization, supervision, and performance tracking.

City leaders welcomed the delegation and emphasized the importance of inter-city collaboration, knowledge sharing, and peer learning in strengthening service delivery across Uganda’s urban centers.

The visit underscores the growing spirit of cooperation among cities as they work towards improving financial sustainability and delivering better services to their communities.