Yesterday June 11, the East African member countries presented their 2026/27 budget to their respective assemblies. The summary is as follows:
• Kenya (KES 4.8 trillion) ≈ $37.06 billion
• Tanzania (TZS 62.3 trillion) ≈ $24 billion
• Uganda (UGX 84.3 trillion) ≈ $22 billion
• Rwanda (RWF 7,796billion) ≈ $5.3 billion
• Burundi (unknown)
Meanwhile, South Sudan presented a SSP 11.335 trillion (~$2.4 billion) budget estimates to economic cluster of the cabinet.
Again we are really behind in catching up with the rest of the countries when it comes to fiscal discipline. The presentation of the budget on time is a constitutional obligation which we have not been respecting for many years. This exercise does not entirely depend on the Minister for Finance and Planning, so the frequent changes in the personalities in that docket is not an excuse for this fiscal indiscipline. We must improve.