By C. Musoke and C.Bekunda

THE Government is to create eight more districts, bringing the total number of new ones to 22. Uganda currently has 80 districts.

The additional districts named on Wednesday by local government minister Adolph Mwesige are Gomba from Mpigi, Kalungu from Masaka, Buvuma from Mukono, Butambala from Mpigi, and Kyankwanzi from Kiboga district, all in Buganda.

Also named were Maracha from Arua, Alepto from Lira and Bulambuli from Sironko.

The boundaries of Arua, the minister added, will be altered to incorporate Terego county.

He said they considered the people’s means of communication, geographical features, economic viability and the people’s wishes, in declaring the new districts.

In May, the Government proposed the creation of 14 districts. Those named in May to take effect from July 1, 2009 were Zombo, Amudat, Otuke, Lamwo, Kyegegwa, Buikwe and Buyende.

Those that will become effective on July 1, 2010 are Namayingo, Luuka, Kiryandongo, Ntoroko, Serere, Mukuju and Kisoko, the latter two to be curved out of Tororo district, which will cease to exist. Since the Government is still consulting the people of Tororo on the matter, Mwesige added, its division into Mukuju and Kisoko will be deferred until the consultations are complete.

The new list of eight districts attracted criticism from Mps, the majority of whom said their ‘promised’ districts had not been listed.

But Speaker Edward Ssekandi advised those whose district proposals had not been listed, to take the matter to the concerned committee.go to the committee where the list was referred for consideration.

Ben Wacha and Abdu Katuntu said the Government should consider making each sub-county a district, instead of parcelling out districts for political purposes ahead of the 2011 polls.