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What you need to know: The issue: Increased health budget. Our view: The increased allocation should reflect in the quality of services offered in health facilities and also increase access to care. Thank you for reading Nation.Africa Show plans The Minister of Finance, Mr Matia Kasaija, on Thursday announced that the Budget for the health sector has been significantly increased in the 2025/2026 Financial Year to Shs5.8 trillion, up from Shs2.9 trillion in the previous Financial Year. This is a good development and indicates prioritisation of the essential services required by the taxpayers amid the reduced donor support. The health sector has been heavily relying on donor support. The increased allocation should reflect in the quality of services offered in health facilities and also increase access to care. This will be...

Wednesday's UK Spending Review means Stormont ministers now know the rough size of their budget in the two years before the next assembly election . In 2026, they will have about £16.3bn for day-to-day spending, up by about 2% in cash terms compared to this year. That will initially rise by another 3% in cash terms in 2027 to £16.8bn. Finance Minister John O'Dowd did not waste any time in managing expectations about what this means. "The reality is the executive will still remain in a financially constrained position, particularly in 2026-27," he said. "It is clear that significant challenges remain for our public services." Those challenges were obvious on the streets of Northern Ireland this week. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), which the chief constable says is "critically underfunded", had to ask for outside help after just two nights of violence. Justice Minister Naomi Long is bidding for f...

Finance minister Yusuf Murangwa on Thursday, June 12, presented the national budget for the 2025/2026 fiscal year, announcing the government’s plan to spend over Rwf7 trillion starting July 1. This marks a 21 percent increase from the 2024/2025 budget, reflecting the government's shift in priorities and ambition. ALSO READ: Six highlights of Rwanda's 2025/26 budget At the heart of the expanded budget is a bold strategy to accelerate economic transformation and advance good governance, alongside other key national development goals. Here is what different Rwandans think about the new budget: Deexon Muhizi, the founder of Igitree, a genealogy platform. This budget is a game-changer for the startup ecosystem. As a young nation with an equally young innovation scene, we’ve long depended on international grants and loans. But with the government now investing in domestically funded projects, it will be easier for startups to access capital and grow. ALSO READ: Rwanda adjusts budge...