Does your home town deserve city status?
Aug 01, 2007
There has been widespread talk and demands by municipalities to be accorded city status. <b>Joshua Kato</b> analyses why some towns do and others do not deserve the status
There has been widespread talk and demands by municipalities to be accorded city status. Joshua Kato analyses why some towns do and others do not deserve the status
Uganda is the only country in East Africa with one city. Kenya has four: Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret, while Tanzania has Dar es Salaam, Dodoma and Arusha.
Any wonder then that many towns in Uganda are clamouring for a city status?
Jinja, Entebbe, Mbale, Masaka, Gulu and Mbarara municipalities have already expressed the desire to be upgraded to city status. During his visit to Jinja in April, the minister for local government, Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, said all those towns that wish to become cities must meet the required standards.
When a town is upgraded to city status, it receives more funding from the central government. “As a municipality, we get about sh2b from the Government, but once we become a city we shall be getting sh12b,†says Jinja Mayor Mohammed Kezaala.
The status will also bring regional development. For example, most of the businesses in the eastern region will be conducted in Jinja. This is the same case with Gulu in northern Uganda and Mbarara in western Uganda.
One reason Buganda region is more developed than the other regions is because the capital city, Kampala, is located here.
The move to upgrade to a city starts with a motion in the Municipality Council and later the district council. It then goes to Parliament before a final decision is made.
Entebbe
It was the first capital city of Uganda. Constructed by colonialists as their first base, the town still carries the grandeur of colonial architecture. Entebbe peninsula is the main gateway to Uganda, as it hosts the only international airport in the country. It has several hotels and a zoo.
The Mayor, Stephen Kabuye, has worked hard to sell the town both in and outside Uganda.
Entebbe has two major army bases: the Presidential Guard Brigade and the Air-force base, giving the town a secure face.
The law requires that for a municipality to become a city, it should have at least 500,000 people. Entebbe has about 150,000 people. However, during the day the population rises to about 200,000 as people from other areas come here to work. The key offices in the area include the Ministry of Agriculture headquarters, the Uganda Virus Research Centre and the Uganda Bureau of Statistics. It also has a university.
Entebbe’s undoing, however, is its proximity to Kampala, only 32km away. Because it is on the shores of Lake Victoria, there isn’t enough room for expansion.
Jinja
This is another famous town. It started as a small fishing village in 1900, but quickly grew into Uganda’s largest industrial town. In the early 1950s, Jinja got a municipality status. It was developed by Asian traders who owned industries. It is a port town that can land any vessel operating from any corner of East Africa. The town is linked to the Great East African railway. It has an airstrip that is mainly used by tourists.
Jinja has two major army bases: the Uganda People’s Defence Forces Senior Officers Institute at Kimaka and Jinja Cadets Base. Magamaga Ordnance Depot is not far away from here. Though many industries here collapsed during the 1970s and 1980s political turmoil, the town is picking up. With geographical features such as the Source of the Nile, hydro-electric power dams, Bujagali and Itanda falls, the town is a good tourist destination. It also has several universities. The streets are well-planned and there is room for expansion.
Early last year, Otafiire promised Jinja city status if it meets the required standards. People hoped it would be declared a city during the recent celebrations to mark 100 years, but this never happened. However, Jinja, with a population of about 100,000, may not pass the test.
With its industries and the tourism and business sectors, Jinja has a good source of revenue. Its main competitors in the east are Mbale and Tororo. However, both towns are not as keen on getting the city status as Jinja is.
Masaka
This famous town in the Buganda region started growing in the early 1940s and 1950s. It derives its livelihood from coffee growing and trade. Until the 1979 war, Masaka town was blooming. It is home to a major army base — the Mechanised Division at Kasijagirwa. According to the acting town clerk, Martin Ssentongo, Masaka is fit to be a city “because it meets all the standards.â€
During the 1979 liberation war, many buildings were destroyed, leaving it a ghost town. Since 1986, however, Masaka has been growing fast, with some few setbacks like the banana and the coffee wilt diseases. There are big hotels, entertainment clubs and banks. Masaka also has a university. Its revenue mainly comes from taxi and bus parks, property rates and licence fees.
Gulu
Located about 640km north of Kampala, Gulu is also on the list of those clamouring for city status. Of all the contenders, Gulu has the largest population. It has an army base — the 4th Division of the UPDF, a university and an airstrip. It has a number of hotels, lodges and offices. There is also room for expansion. If it is upgraded to a city, Gulu may become a business hub for Uganda and Southern Sudan. The town is less than 160km south of the Uganda-Sudan border. “Gulu is the most highly populated and the fastest-growing municipality in the country,†says Norbert Mao, the LC5 chairman.
Mbarara
It is the largest town in western Uganda. It is home to the UPDF 2nd Division. The mayor, Wilson Tumwine, has worked hard to modernise the town. The taxi and bus parks are streamlined and plans are underway to tarmack all the roads. The town has the regional central bank headquarters and other regional offices. It has hotels, entertainment clubs, radio stations and a television station is in the offing. Mbarara also has a university.
The possible verdict
It will be difficult to make Entebbe a city because of her proximity to Kampala city.
On the other hand, Jinja stands a better chance because of her large hinterland and her historical importance. However, analysts say it would not be prudent to give only Jinja city status, without giving Mbarara and Gulu the same, just for regional balancing. This will be costly in terms of public expenditure, but in the long run, it will encourage development in all the regions. In developed countries, less than 10% of the population live in rural areas, but in Uganda, 95% of the population live in rural areas.
Uganda is the only country in East Africa with one city. Kenya has four: Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret, while Tanzania has Dar es Salaam, Dodoma and Arusha.
Any wonder then that many towns in Uganda are clamouring for a city status?
Jinja, Entebbe, Mbale, Masaka, Gulu and Mbarara municipalities have already expressed the desire to be upgraded to city status. During his visit to Jinja in April, the minister for local government, Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, said all those towns that wish to become cities must meet the required standards.
When a town is upgraded to city status, it receives more funding from the central government. “As a municipality, we get about sh2b from the Government, but once we become a city we shall be getting sh12b,†says Jinja Mayor Mohammed Kezaala.
The status will also bring regional development. For example, most of the businesses in the eastern region will be conducted in Jinja. This is the same case with Gulu in northern Uganda and Mbarara in western Uganda.
One reason Buganda region is more developed than the other regions is because the capital city, Kampala, is located here.
The move to upgrade to a city starts with a motion in the Municipality Council and later the district council. It then goes to Parliament before a final decision is made.
Entebbe
It was the first capital city of Uganda. Constructed by colonialists as their first base, the town still carries the grandeur of colonial architecture. Entebbe peninsula is the main gateway to Uganda, as it hosts the only international airport in the country. It has several hotels and a zoo.
The Mayor, Stephen Kabuye, has worked hard to sell the town both in and outside Uganda.
Entebbe has two major army bases: the Presidential Guard Brigade and the Air-force base, giving the town a secure face.
The law requires that for a municipality to become a city, it should have at least 500,000 people. Entebbe has about 150,000 people. However, during the day the population rises to about 200,000 as people from other areas come here to work. The key offices in the area include the Ministry of Agriculture headquarters, the Uganda Virus Research Centre and the Uganda Bureau of Statistics. It also has a university.
Entebbe’s undoing, however, is its proximity to Kampala, only 32km away. Because it is on the shores of Lake Victoria, there isn’t enough room for expansion.
Jinja
This is another famous town. It started as a small fishing village in 1900, but quickly grew into Uganda’s largest industrial town. In the early 1950s, Jinja got a municipality status. It was developed by Asian traders who owned industries. It is a port town that can land any vessel operating from any corner of East Africa. The town is linked to the Great East African railway. It has an airstrip that is mainly used by tourists.
Jinja has two major army bases: the Uganda People’s Defence Forces Senior Officers Institute at Kimaka and Jinja Cadets Base. Magamaga Ordnance Depot is not far away from here. Though many industries here collapsed during the 1970s and 1980s political turmoil, the town is picking up. With geographical features such as the Source of the Nile, hydro-electric power dams, Bujagali and Itanda falls, the town is a good tourist destination. It also has several universities. The streets are well-planned and there is room for expansion.
Early last year, Otafiire promised Jinja city status if it meets the required standards. People hoped it would be declared a city during the recent celebrations to mark 100 years, but this never happened. However, Jinja, with a population of about 100,000, may not pass the test.
With its industries and the tourism and business sectors, Jinja has a good source of revenue. Its main competitors in the east are Mbale and Tororo. However, both towns are not as keen on getting the city status as Jinja is.
Masaka
This famous town in the Buganda region started growing in the early 1940s and 1950s. It derives its livelihood from coffee growing and trade. Until the 1979 war, Masaka town was blooming. It is home to a major army base — the Mechanised Division at Kasijagirwa. According to the acting town clerk, Martin Ssentongo, Masaka is fit to be a city “because it meets all the standards.â€
During the 1979 liberation war, many buildings were destroyed, leaving it a ghost town. Since 1986, however, Masaka has been growing fast, with some few setbacks like the banana and the coffee wilt diseases. There are big hotels, entertainment clubs and banks. Masaka also has a university. Its revenue mainly comes from taxi and bus parks, property rates and licence fees.
Gulu
Located about 640km north of Kampala, Gulu is also on the list of those clamouring for city status. Of all the contenders, Gulu has the largest population. It has an army base — the 4th Division of the UPDF, a university and an airstrip. It has a number of hotels, lodges and offices. There is also room for expansion. If it is upgraded to a city, Gulu may become a business hub for Uganda and Southern Sudan. The town is less than 160km south of the Uganda-Sudan border. “Gulu is the most highly populated and the fastest-growing municipality in the country,†says Norbert Mao, the LC5 chairman.
Mbarara
It is the largest town in western Uganda. It is home to the UPDF 2nd Division. The mayor, Wilson Tumwine, has worked hard to modernise the town. The taxi and bus parks are streamlined and plans are underway to tarmack all the roads. The town has the regional central bank headquarters and other regional offices. It has hotels, entertainment clubs, radio stations and a television station is in the offing. Mbarara also has a university.
The possible verdict
It will be difficult to make Entebbe a city because of her proximity to Kampala city.
On the other hand, Jinja stands a better chance because of her large hinterland and her historical importance. However, analysts say it would not be prudent to give only Jinja city status, without giving Mbarara and Gulu the same, just for regional balancing. This will be costly in terms of public expenditure, but in the long run, it will encourage development in all the regions. In developed countries, less than 10% of the population live in rural areas, but in Uganda, 95% of the population live in rural areas.