New cities struggle with funding and staffing gaps — Parliament report

Uganda’s newly created cities are struggling to function effectively due to severe funding constraints, staffing shortages and the absence of legal frameworks, a parliamentary report has revealed.

The Parliamentary Committee on Government Assurances and Implementation assessed the operational status of the ten cities created by the government and found widespread implementation gaps.

These include a lack of office space, inadequate physical planning, absence of city-specific laws and regulations, insufficient staffing and limited funding.

Presenting the report to Parliament on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, committee chairperson Abed Bwanika (Kimaanya-Kabonera Division, NUP) said that although Parliament approved the creation of 15 cities in April 2020, only ten have so far been operationalised.

These include Arua, Gulu, Lira, Soroti, Mbale, Jinja, Masaka, Mbarara, Fort Portal and Hoima.

“The committee expected full operationalisation of all the new cities within three years. However, progress has been slow, and Members of Parliament have repeatedly raised concerns about inadequate legal frameworks, office space, and governance issues,” Bwanika said.

He noted that the Minister for Local Government, Raphael Magyezi, has failed to present regulations clarifying the relationship between city and district administrations, leading to administrative contradictions.

“While the creation of cities aligns with the Constitution, there is a pressing need to harmonise their governance and legal frameworks,” Bwanika emphasised.

Committee recommendations

The committee recommended that the government introduce a comprehensive Bill to define the governance, structure and service delivery of cities.

It also proposed that the Local Government Act be amended to incorporate a legal framework specific to city administrations, and that the Ministry of Local Government table regulations on city governance within three months.

The report further revealed that only four cities — Arua, Gulu, Jinja and Mbarara — have approved physical development plans. The other cities — Fort Portal, Masaka, Hoima, Lira, Soroti and Mbale — are still awaiting approval of their plans.

Some cities with approved plans are not adhering to them, and many urban residents continue to live in unplanned settlements. In several cases, building control committees are being chaired by city works secretaries instead of designated officials, which the committee flagged as irregular.

The committee recommended that the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development ensure all cities develop and follow their physical development plans within the next two financial years.

Staffing crisis and funding gaps

The report also highlighted acute staffing shortages in all cities, with most operating at less than half of their approved human resource structures.

Masaka City had the lowest staffing levels, with 68 percent of positions vacant, while Soroti City had the highest staffing level at just 43 percent.

To address this, the committee urged the government to lift the ban on recruitment, allocate adequate budgets to new cities and their parent districts, and fast-track the Salary Review Commission for local governments.

It recommended that the Ministry of Local Government present guidelines on asset sharing between new cities and their parent districts within 30 days.

Furthermore, the report called for adequate funding for statutory bodies such as city boards and commissions, and for infrastructure development, including new headquarters, office space and staff accommodation.

Future cities at risk

The committee warned that without urgent reforms and investment, the remaining five cities of Entebbe, Moroto, Nakasongola, Kabale and Wakiso, which are yet to be operationalised, risk facing similar setbacks.

“The Government must ensure sustainable and sufficient funding for existing and future cities to meet the expectations of city status,” the report said.