The government has bowed to pressure and accepted to include Mbale and Masaka Municipalities among the cities that will be operationalised in the financial year 2020/21 alongside others like; Arua, Jinja, Mbarara, Gulu and Fort Portal.
The latest development was announced by Jennifer Namuyangu, the Minister of State for Local Government while addressing the media about this week’s Cabinet resolutions.
Minister Namuyangu said Cabinet on Monday approved the two towns as cities at State House Entebbe.
Addressing journalists at a press briefing at Media Center today, Namuyangu who was announcing decisions from Monday’s cabinet meeting said that the two cities will require an additional Shs11.3Bn in the financial year 2020/21 and that this has already been provided for by the Ministry of Finance.
It should be recalled that in May 2019, Government revealed plans to elevate 13 municipalities to City status including; Arua, Mbarara, Gulu, Jinja, Mbale, Masaka, and Fortportal but it had left out the two municipalities which caused uproar and protests amongst the big officials and residents in two municipalities.
Mbale and Masaka were initially not part of municipalities that were meant to gain city status in FY 2020/21 which raised concern from residents and politicians originating from Bugisu and Buganda regions respectively.
According to the minister, stakeholders from Mbale and Masaka proposed cities have expressed readiness for the two cities to become operational with effect from July 2020. Mbale and Masaka are one of the oldest towns in Uganda characterised by robust commerce and social activities.
Each of the seven earmarked cities, according to the minister will comprise of two divisions that will be equivalent to municipalities for easy administration and coordination.
However, last month, the Finance ministry permanent secretary and secretary to the treasury, Keith Muhakanizi said the 2020/21 budget does not cater for Masaka, Mbale and Mbarara as new cities alongside several town councils. It is not clear whether government has identified the funds that will go to the two cities.
She said Uganda’s Vision 2040 envisages an urbanized Uganda, an ambitious plan that seeks to elevate it to middle income status. There’s no doubt that the future of Uganda’s growth will continue to lie in new cities which will be Strategic and Regional.
