Why Wakiso local leaders are opposed to Kampala extension
Jan 09, 2008
THE plan to extend the city boundaries will most likely be implemented next financial year. The master plan for the Government’s takeover of Kampala has been completed and will soon be tabled in Parliament. However, it is coming under challenge from politicians as well as local leaders in Wakiso d
By Joshua Kato
THE plan to extend the city boundaries will most likely be implemented next financial year. The master plan for the Government’s takeover of Kampala has been completed and will soon be tabled in Parliament. However, it is coming under challenge from politicians as well as local leaders in Wakiso district, where Kampala is set to expand.
Unofficially though, the urbanisation of areas near Kampala has been extending fast from five miles about 20 years ago, to the current 10 miles. However, administratively, the expansion of Kampala has never been considered.
According to the proposal, Kira Town Council to the east of Wakiso, will be added to Kampala. To the south-east, areas of Kajjansi, Sseguku, Lubowa, which are part of Wakiso, will also be added to the city; so will Makindye Sabagaabo sub-county in Wakiso district. The city will also expand to Gayaza and Kawanda on Bombo Road.
Rubaga Division will be changed into Mengo Municipality in order to cater for the various Buganda cultural sites in this area. This may include the areas around Lubiri, Bulange, Kabaka’s Lake, the northern side of Masaka Road,
Wankulukuku, Kasubi and the southern side of Hoima Road up to Bakuli. This area will be pushed out of Kampala into Wakiso, largely to cater for Buganda’s cultural sites.
According to the Constitution, the city, though located in Buganda, belongs to Ugandans. It is not counted among the districts of Buganda. Therefore, Buganda cannot be in control of the cultural sites in an area that constitutionally does not belong to them.
Wakiso local leaders are, however, opposed to most of the extension proposals, especially because they were not directly involved in the planning stages. They are also not sure of retaining their democratic rights, or gaining bigger status like becoming municipalities.
“I am not opposed to government programmes, for the sake of it, but I am opposed to the manner in which this proposal is being handled,†says Wakiso LC5 chairman Eng. Ian Kyeyune.
Although Wakiso is may lose significant areas, the district leaders have not been involved in the handling of the proposal. Kyeyune also argues that the proposal takes many areas from Wakiso compared to what it is offering.
“There is no reason for the Government to take away areas without involving district leaders,†he says. Kyeyune adds that this affects the values of decentralisation. “Instead of handing us over to Kampala, let them give us municipality status. We have the numbers and financial requirements to become a municipality,†says Kira Town Council Speaker Lillian Naluyima.
Advantages
However, there is no reason why Kira Town Council should resist being joined to the city. There are more advantages if it gains municipality status than there are, if it remains part of Wakiso. One of the advantages is increased funding from the central government.
The other area targeted for transfer to the city is Makindye Sabagabo. This sub-county starts from ewapidda on Entebbe Road and skirts through Bunamwaya, Kigo and Busabala on Lake Victoria. This area is also lobbying for town council status, however, under the new proposal, it will become part of the city.
On the other hand, Makindye Division local leaders claim that instead of making Makindye Sabagabo a new municipality, they should make it part of Makindye to create one powerful municipality.
“We have for a long time been lobbying the Government to combine Makindye Division and Makindye Sabagabo into one municipality. This is what should be done instead of having Sabagabo as a new area in Kampala,†says the LC3 chairman, Moses Kalungi.
However, because the population of Makindye Division is about 400,000 people, another 300,000 from Sabagabo will make it over-populated. On the other hand, councillors in Makindye Sabagabo have vowed not to accept the changes. Councillors say, they are against the proposal because it is not clear.
“The information we are receiving is mixed up. Some people say we shall gain municipality status, while others say the new city will have no municipalities or divisions, but one large administrative area,†a councillor says.
Fears
Kyadondo South MP Issa Kikungwe says the new set up will be rejected because it contradicts the aspirations of Buganda. “If you compare the size of Sabagabo which is intended to replace Rubaga Division, you realise that Sabagabo is too big to be cut from Buganda,†he says. Kikungwe says since according to the Constitution, Kampala is not included in Buganda, people will oppose its expansion into Buganda.
“The area they want to take away from Wakiso is bigger than what they are giving us. On top of that, Rubaga will become a municipality, which is independent of the district,†he says. Kyeyune calls for transparency as the issues are being implemented so that the consequences are equally shared.
Many councillors also fear that the changes will affect their political representation. Although the proposal says the various divisions of the city will remain divisions led by a chairperson elected from amongst the councillors, some local leaders say they may support the setup if the divisions are upgraded into municipalities.
If the divisions are turned into municipalities as local leaders wish, the new city will have at least six municipalities. On top of the current five, the two that are likely to be added on include Kira to the east of Kampala and Makindye Sabagabo.
With a combined population of around 400,000 people, this will atone for the population that the city will lose to Wakiso if Rubaga is transferred. The new municipalities will be different from the current setup because they will receive direct funding from the Government and not city hall as is the case. They will also have elected mayors and not chairmen as is the case at the moment.
According to some local leaders, joining the city might enable them plan better, with access to better services. However, the fact that they may lose their democratic rights makes them even more nervous.
THE plan to extend the city boundaries will most likely be implemented next financial year. The master plan for the Government’s takeover of Kampala has been completed and will soon be tabled in Parliament. However, it is coming under challenge from politicians as well as local leaders in Wakiso district, where Kampala is set to expand.
Unofficially though, the urbanisation of areas near Kampala has been extending fast from five miles about 20 years ago, to the current 10 miles. However, administratively, the expansion of Kampala has never been considered.
According to the proposal, Kira Town Council to the east of Wakiso, will be added to Kampala. To the south-east, areas of Kajjansi, Sseguku, Lubowa, which are part of Wakiso, will also be added to the city; so will Makindye Sabagaabo sub-county in Wakiso district. The city will also expand to Gayaza and Kawanda on Bombo Road.
Rubaga Division will be changed into Mengo Municipality in order to cater for the various Buganda cultural sites in this area. This may include the areas around Lubiri, Bulange, Kabaka’s Lake, the northern side of Masaka Road,
Wankulukuku, Kasubi and the southern side of Hoima Road up to Bakuli. This area will be pushed out of Kampala into Wakiso, largely to cater for Buganda’s cultural sites.
According to the Constitution, the city, though located in Buganda, belongs to Ugandans. It is not counted among the districts of Buganda. Therefore, Buganda cannot be in control of the cultural sites in an area that constitutionally does not belong to them.
Wakiso local leaders are, however, opposed to most of the extension proposals, especially because they were not directly involved in the planning stages. They are also not sure of retaining their democratic rights, or gaining bigger status like becoming municipalities.
“I am not opposed to government programmes, for the sake of it, but I am opposed to the manner in which this proposal is being handled,†says Wakiso LC5 chairman Eng. Ian Kyeyune.
Although Wakiso is may lose significant areas, the district leaders have not been involved in the handling of the proposal. Kyeyune also argues that the proposal takes many areas from Wakiso compared to what it is offering.
“There is no reason for the Government to take away areas without involving district leaders,†he says. Kyeyune adds that this affects the values of decentralisation. “Instead of handing us over to Kampala, let them give us municipality status. We have the numbers and financial requirements to become a municipality,†says Kira Town Council Speaker Lillian Naluyima.
Advantages
However, there is no reason why Kira Town Council should resist being joined to the city. There are more advantages if it gains municipality status than there are, if it remains part of Wakiso. One of the advantages is increased funding from the central government.
The other area targeted for transfer to the city is Makindye Sabagabo. This sub-county starts from ewapidda on Entebbe Road and skirts through Bunamwaya, Kigo and Busabala on Lake Victoria. This area is also lobbying for town council status, however, under the new proposal, it will become part of the city.
On the other hand, Makindye Division local leaders claim that instead of making Makindye Sabagabo a new municipality, they should make it part of Makindye to create one powerful municipality.
“We have for a long time been lobbying the Government to combine Makindye Division and Makindye Sabagabo into one municipality. This is what should be done instead of having Sabagabo as a new area in Kampala,†says the LC3 chairman, Moses Kalungi.
However, because the population of Makindye Division is about 400,000 people, another 300,000 from Sabagabo will make it over-populated. On the other hand, councillors in Makindye Sabagabo have vowed not to accept the changes. Councillors say, they are against the proposal because it is not clear.
“The information we are receiving is mixed up. Some people say we shall gain municipality status, while others say the new city will have no municipalities or divisions, but one large administrative area,†a councillor says.
Fears
Kyadondo South MP Issa Kikungwe says the new set up will be rejected because it contradicts the aspirations of Buganda. “If you compare the size of Sabagabo which is intended to replace Rubaga Division, you realise that Sabagabo is too big to be cut from Buganda,†he says. Kikungwe says since according to the Constitution, Kampala is not included in Buganda, people will oppose its expansion into Buganda.
“The area they want to take away from Wakiso is bigger than what they are giving us. On top of that, Rubaga will become a municipality, which is independent of the district,†he says. Kyeyune calls for transparency as the issues are being implemented so that the consequences are equally shared.
Many councillors also fear that the changes will affect their political representation. Although the proposal says the various divisions of the city will remain divisions led by a chairperson elected from amongst the councillors, some local leaders say they may support the setup if the divisions are upgraded into municipalities.
If the divisions are turned into municipalities as local leaders wish, the new city will have at least six municipalities. On top of the current five, the two that are likely to be added on include Kira to the east of Kampala and Makindye Sabagabo.
With a combined population of around 400,000 people, this will atone for the population that the city will lose to Wakiso if Rubaga is transferred. The new municipalities will be different from the current setup because they will receive direct funding from the Government and not city hall as is the case. They will also have elected mayors and not chairmen as is the case at the moment.
According to some local leaders, joining the city might enable them plan better, with access to better services. However, the fact that they may lose their democratic rights makes them even more nervous.