By Spy Uganda
Kampala: Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has announced that the government intends to operationalize the remaining five cities by July 1, 2025, in preparation for the 2026 general elections. This decision was disclosed during the Prime Minister’s Question Time on Tuesday, August 8, 2024, in response to a query from Michael Kakembo, MP for Entebbe Municipality.
Kakembo pressed the Prime Minister on the timeline for operationalizing Entebbe City, referencing the 10th Parliament’s approval of new cities. He emphasized the need to activate these cities to facilitate preparations for the upcoming elections and the demarcation of constituencies.
In her response, Nabbanja recalled that the government had created 15 cities in April 2020, with a phased plan for their operationalization. The first group of ten cities, including Arua, Mbarara, and Gulu, became operational on July 1, 2020. The next five cities—Entebbe, Moroto, Nakasongola, Kabale, and Wakiso—were scheduled to follow, with Entebbe originally set for July 1, 2023.
However, an amendment to the Local Government Act in August 2020 delayed this process, stipulating that new administrative units could only be operationalized six months before general elections.
The Ministry of Local Government is now conducting technical studies and consultations to ensure the remaining cities are ready by the new target date.The issue of city operationalization also surfaced earlier in April 2024, when the Minister of Local Government, Raphael Magyezi, sought guidance from Parliament’s Committee on Public Service and Local Government.
Magyezi questioned whether to proceed with the new cities or focus on fully operationalizing the existing ones, citing ongoing challenges.
The former Auditor General’s report from December 2022 highlighted these challenges, noting unspent funds and delays in implementing new city structures, which have affected service delivery.
Nabbanja also addressed concerns regarding the creation of new administrative units, revealing that 327 of the 740 units need office blocks, which the government plans to construct over two financial years starting in 2025/26.
Speaker Anita Among echoed these concerns in July 2023, expressing reluctance to create new districts or constituencies until existing issues are resolved.
