BUSHENYI, April 10, 2026 — Local authorities in Bushenyi district have stepped up efforts to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation, as a new development initiative promises to inject fresh capital into rural economies.
The District Revenue Officer, Godwin Ahwera, has begun sensitising property owners in Bumbaire Subcounty on the importance of property rate taxes, targeting commercial buildings as a key source of local government funding.
Speaking during a meeting held on Thursday at the Bumbaire Subcounty headquarters, Ahwera said business premises in the area are expected to generate Shs 6,236,271 annually to support service delivery.
Judith Ainomugisha, the Senior Assistant Secretary [SAS] for Bumbaire Sub-county, pledged to scale up the sensitisation campaign across all parishes to ensure taxpayers fully understand their obligations.
LC III Chairperson Celestine Bagampangire welcomed the initiative, describing property tax as a critical lifeline for Bumbaire, which continues to grapple with one of the lowest revenue bases in the district.
LEGS project to support farmers and cooperatives
Alongside local revenue efforts, officials have highlighted a significant external funding opportunity aimed at transforming household incomes.
The District Commercial Officer for Bushenyi, Christine Hope Komujuni, revealed that the Local Economic Growth Support [LEGS] project—funded by the Islamic Development Bank, will provide targeted support to smallholder farmers and cooperatives.
“We have a project called Local Economic Growth Support that will benefit tea farmers and coffee cooperatives. It cuts across sectors and will be beneficial to the people of Bushenyi District,” Komujuni said.
“We were selected among the first beneficiaries of the programme, which is supported by the Islamic Development Bank.”
She urged prospective beneficiaries to prepare for the funds by prioritising sustainable investments at household level rather than unproductive expenditure.
SACCOs positioned to channel development finance
In neighbouring Sheema district, leaders are preparing local financial institutions to play a central role in delivering affordable credit under the LEGS programme.
LC V Chairperson Jemima Tumwijukye Buhanda confirmed that Shuuku SACCO, Muhame Financial Services and Kigarama People’s Financial Services have been selected to participate.
“We have submitted these SACCOs under the LEGS programme so that they can access funds at an interest rate of 0.8 per cent, which will then be extended to members to promote financial inclusion,” she said.
Tumwijukye emphasised the need for community support towards local SACCOs to ensure the success of such initiatives.
“When government programmes come, we must prioritise our own SACCOs. As leaders, we must lead by example by saving with them so that wealth remains within our communities,” she added.
Driving the transition to a money economy
The renewed focus on revenue mobilisation and access to low-interest financing aligns with the Government’s long-term strategy to transition households from subsistence farming to a cash-based economy.
Since the 1990s, several programmes—including Bonabagagawale, Operation Wealth Creation [OWC], the Youth Livelihood Programme, the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme [UWEP], Emyooga, and the Parish Development Model [PDM], have been rolled out to commercialise rural livelihoods.
According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics [UBOS], the proportion of households engaged in subsistence production has declined significantly, from 64 per cent in 2014 to 33 per cent in 2024.
Authorities say the current interventions in Bushenyi and Sheema districts are aimed at transitioning the remaining population from subsistence living to active participation in the money economy.
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