Kenya and Uganda have increased public spending on climate-related programmes in their 2026/27 budgets, with a strong emphasis on water resources, flood management, drought resilience and ecosystem restoration, reports Zawya. The higher allocations reflect growing concerns about the economic and social impacts of water-related climate risks across both countries.
Kenya has allocated Ksh124.8 billion (US$960 million) to climate-related activities in 2026/27, up from Ksh103.8 billion (US$798 million) in the previous financial year. Within this budget, Ksh51.5 billion (US$396 million) has been earmarked for water and sewerage systems, Ksh6.3 billion (US$48.5 million) for water resource management, and Ksh2.5 billion (US$19.2 million) for flood control and water storage infrastructure.
The increase follows a period in which parts of Kenya experienced both drought and flooding. Water availability remains a challenge in arid and semi-arid counties, while urban areas continue to face flood risks linked to drainage constraints and rapid urbanisation.
The increase follows a period in which parts of Kenya experienced both drought and flooding
Kenya has also expanded investment in ecosystem restoration, including forests and watersheds that play an important role in regulating water flows and supporting water security. Additional funding has been directed to the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) programme, which supports community-level projects such as water infrastructure, ecosystem restoration and climate adaptation initiatives across the country's 47 counties.
Uganda has similarly increased funding for climate, water resources and natural resource management. The allocation rises from Ush366.1 billion (US$98.9 million) in 2025/26 to Ush494.08 billion (US$133.5 million) in 2026/27. The government has also allocated Ush361.88 billion (US$97.8 million) to its contingency fund for disaster response.
According to the Ugandan government, the funding will support the protection of forest reserves and wetlands, restoration of degraded wetlands, and the demarcation of riverbanks and lakeshores. Wetlands are a key component of Uganda's water management strategy because they help regulate water flows, reduce flood impacts and support agricultural production.
The latest budgets indicate that water management is becoming increasingly integrated into climate policy in both countries
Both countries continue to face water-related vulnerabilities linked to climate variability. In Kenya, recurring droughts affect water supplies for communities, agriculture and livestock, while flooding periodically damages homes, infrastructure and livelihoods. In Uganda, communities located near wetlands and river systems remain exposed to flooding and displacement despite ongoing restoration efforts.
Experts cited in the report note that climate information and forecasting systems are improving, but that effective adaptation also depends on investments in infrastructure, local preparedness and water management systems. Concerns remain about the capacity of institutions to implement projects efficiently and coordinate actions across sectors.
The latest budgets indicate that water management is becoming increasingly integrated into climate policy in both countries. Investments in water supply, sanitation, flood control, storage infrastructure, wetlands and watershed protection are being positioned as part of broader efforts to strengthen resilience to climate-related shocks and support long-term development.
