-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CUNqCbAlaQpU51GeZPsj3EQOSj3HGhNYEmJuVtP0kqYTSjFIiB0eRK6iBDuwBiqz
 YwmOgfV3AZWYplv3JJuFFA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001198315-03-000019.txt : 20030812
<SEC-HEADER>0001198315-03-000019.hdr.sgml : 20030812
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030812152516
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001198315-03-000019
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030430
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030812

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ANDERSON BLAKE E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001196505

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-07626
		FILM NUMBER:		03837461

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PUTNAM LLC
		STREET 2:		P O SQUARE L5
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6172921104

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PUTNAM MUNICIPAL OPPORTUNITIES TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000900422
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				043187549
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6172921000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-04-30</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000900422</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PUTNAM MUNICIPAL OPPORTUNITIES TRUST</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PMO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001196505</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ANDERSON BLAKE E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Managing Director</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Blake E. Anderson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>blakeconfirm.txt
<DESCRIPTION>CONFIRMING STATEMENT
<TEXT>
Confirming Statement

I, as Reporting Person of Putnam Investment Management, LLC and/or
Putnam, LLC, the Issuer's Investment Adviser and Indirect Parent
Holding Company, respectively, hereby authorize and designate each and
every Managing Director, Senior Vice President and Vice President in
the Putnam Investments Legal and Compliance Department to file SEC
Exchange Act Forms 3, 4 or 5 on my behalf until further notice in
electronic format pursuant to Rule 101(b)(4) of Regulation S-T.

- ---------------------------

/s/ Blake E. Anderson



</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
