Gov't drops proposal on creation of new districts

By Henry Sekanjako and Mary Karugaba

The government is considering dropping a proposal for the creation of 25 new districts in the country citing high costs involved in running such districts.

According to the Adolf Mwesige, the minister for local government, the creation of the new districts would cost the government Sh50b on top of Sh14b annual budget required for running the proposed new districts.

“Following the tabling of the motion on creation of new districts in parliament, debate ensued and Cabinet reviewed the decision to which it decided on a moratorium which affected the motion,” Mwesige told Parliament on Tuesday.

The Minister was responding to a report by the Parliament’s committee on public service and local government regarding a motion for a resolution of parliament on the creation of new districts.

In 2012, Mwesige tabled before parliament a motion for a resolution of parliament to create 25 new districts. The motion was then forwarded to the committee on public service and local government for scrutiny.

“Before a district is created, government must have fiscal capacity to run a district. Because of these realities, government saw it not viable to pursue this motion,” noted Mwesige.

He asked Parliament to allow government three weeks within which he will consult cabinet on whether to uphold or withdraw the motion on creation of new districts.

In 2013, President Yoweri Museveni announced a moratorium on the creation of new districts citing lack of funds to run the new districts.

However presenting the report on the creation of new districts, the MPs recommended that the government treats the moratorium on creation of new districts as a temporary measure.

“The committee supports the additional criteria for creating new local governments as a means of making the local governments more viable and effective,” said Grace Freedom Kwiyucwinyu the committee chairperson.

In a minority report however, Mukono municipality MP Betty Nambooze opposed the creation of new districts and instead proposed the creation of new constituencies and municipalities for easy service delivery. 

Some of the 25 proposed new districts include Kyadondo district caved from Wakiso district, Omoro district from Gulu district, Rwampara district from Mbarara and Kagadi district from Kibale district.

The proposed districts were supposed to be created between the years July 2012, 2013, 2014 and July 2015.

By August 2010, there were 111 districts, with 22 municipal councils and 174 town councils.


Related to the story

Govt rejects calls to reintroduce Graduated Tax

Uganda to review district creation

25 more districts created