Uganda needs more cities
EDITOR’S COMMENT<br><br>The debate about whether Uganda should have more cities has gained momentum over the last few months. Several major regional towns have come out and declared their intentions to be upgraded from municipality to city status. These include Jinja, Gulu, Masaka, Mbarara and E
EDITOR’S COMMENT
The debate about whether Uganda should have more cities has gained momentum over the last few months. Several major regional towns have come out and declared their intentions to be upgraded from municipality to city status. These include Jinja, Gulu, Masaka, Mbarara and Entebbe.
Uganda is the only country in East-Africa that has one city. Kenya has four; Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu and Eldoret, while Tanzania has Dar-er-salaam, Dodoma and Arusha, yet more towns are agitating for city status in those countries. This is one of the reasons why Uganda should get at least two more cities.
Creating more cities is a catalyst for development of the surrounding areas near the city. In fact, in developed countries, the highest population lives in cities. In Europe for example, the average percentage of urbanites stands at 93% of the population, leaving only 7% in rural areas.
The creation of new cities will increase opportunities regionally and reduce the pressure on Kampala, the capital city. If, for example, Mbarara or Gulu became cities, more offices would be decentralised there and in the process decongest Kampala. For individual cities, there are also financial benefits. At the moment, municipalities receive an average of sh3b from the Government per year. But, if they become cities, this will increase to sh10b a year.
The population ceiling of at least 0.5m people set up by the Government before a municipality is declared a city, should not be an obstacle. The fact is, Uganda needs more cities.
The debate about whether Uganda should have more cities has gained momentum over the last few months. Several major regional towns have come out and declared their intentions to be upgraded from municipality to city status. These include Jinja, Gulu, Masaka, Mbarara and Entebbe.
Uganda is the only country in East-Africa that has one city. Kenya has four; Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu and Eldoret, while Tanzania has Dar-er-salaam, Dodoma and Arusha, yet more towns are agitating for city status in those countries. This is one of the reasons why Uganda should get at least two more cities.
Creating more cities is a catalyst for development of the surrounding areas near the city. In fact, in developed countries, the highest population lives in cities. In Europe for example, the average percentage of urbanites stands at 93% of the population, leaving only 7% in rural areas.
The creation of new cities will increase opportunities regionally and reduce the pressure on Kampala, the capital city. If, for example, Mbarara or Gulu became cities, more offices would be decentralised there and in the process decongest Kampala. For individual cities, there are also financial benefits. At the moment, municipalities receive an average of sh3b from the Government per year. But, if they become cities, this will increase to sh10b a year.
The population ceiling of at least 0.5m people set up by the Government before a municipality is declared a city, should not be an obstacle. The fact is, Uganda needs more cities.