By Andrew Rhythm
Masaka: Leaders of Masaka district lead by the LC. V Chairman Jude Mbabali have dragged Minister for Local Government Tom Butime, and the Attorney General to the High Court, over denying their municipality city status.
In their suit Miscellaneous Cause No. 12 of 2019, Mbabali and others want court to quash a decision made on Monday 20th May at State House Entebbe, moved by the 1st Respondent (Butime) and communicated by Mr. Ofwono Opondo, the Executive Director of the Uganda Media Centre on the 21st May 2019 approving the creation of nine (9) new cities contrary to the procedure set out in Section 7(2a) of the Local Government Act Cap, 243 and Pragraph 32 of the Third Schedule of the Local Government Act Cap 243.
. This came after Butime announced recently that government had created nine new cities which include; Arua, Mbale, Gulu, Mbarara, Entebbe, Tororo, Jinja, Fort Portal and others. However, Mbabali and his comrades were so disgruntled by government’s decision to elevate other municipalities around the country to city status and leaving out Masaka, which they argue is more qualified to become a city compared to many other municipalities that were elevated to city status.
Mbabali has told SpyUgaanda this morning that “We have gone to court seeking a review over Masaka city. We want court to force the Minister of Local Government and Cabinet to review their decision and add Masaka to the approved cities because Masaka has all the qualifications to become a city as required under Section 7(2) of the Local Governments Act and Paragraph 32 of the 3rd Schedule of the same Act including the minimum population of 500,000.” He added that “Why throw out Masaka’s application for city status which has all the requirements and approve cities that don’t have the said requirements as provided under the law?”
