-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OvOrXjL/UFrWM5tfPBdCg/JRnl+zxlhNu0e6It31YW0vvmYHBuKDZ7gdVxt/3pj2
 1MOHOLBxCgPi5sUj0eyGgw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001294165-04-000019.txt : 20040622
<SEC-HEADER>0001294165-04-000019.hdr.sgml : 20040622
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040622143312
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001294165-04-000019
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040420
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040622

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KANWAL AMRIT
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001287963

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-07626
		FILM NUMBER:		04874549

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PUTNAM LLC
		STREET 2:		ONE POST OFFICE SQ.
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109

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>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-20</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001287963</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KANWAL AMRIT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PUTNAM LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE POST OFFICE SQ.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02109</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Managing Director</officerTitle>
            <otherText>of Putnam, LLC</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Amrit Kanwal</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>kanwalconfirm.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/  Amrit Kanwal



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