Wakiso leaders re-echo demand for city status

Oct 19, 2016

VP Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi promises to support Wakiso in attaining city status.

PIC: Vice President Edward Ssekandi officially opened the Kyengera Town Council offices in Nsangi sub-county during independence celebrations held by Wakiso district on Wednesday. (Credit: Roderick Ahimbazwe)

Wakiso district held parallel Independence celebrations on Wednesday, ten days after the national celebrations, with local leaders re-echoing demand for city status.

Uganda marked her 54th independence anniversary in Luuka district on October 9. This year's celebrations rode on the theme: "Protection of our independence through promotion of patriotism, unity and hardwork".

Days after the main commemmorations, a colourful event was held at Nsangi sub-county headquarters with Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi as the chief guest.

He also officially commissioned Kyengera Town Council offices during the event that brought together leaders and politicians from different political groups.

Chief Guest VP Ssekandi inspects a guard of honour during the independence celebrations. (Credit: Roderick Ahimbazwe)


In his delivery, the VP congratulated residents of Kyengera upon attaining town council status and promised to support Wakiso in attaining city status.

He called on leaders in the district to work towards helping their people out of poverty.

"I am confident that the new town councils and municipalities will enhance service delivery to the people in the district as Uganda transcends to middle-income status," he said.

Ssekandi said that during the national celebrations in Luuka, President Yoweri Museveni pointed out that the NRM government had identified the ten (10) bottlenecks to Uganda's and Africa's  development, which government is significantly reducing so as to guarantee Uganda's transformation from peasantry to modernity.

They include; ideological disorientation, a weak state, especially the army, that needed strengthening, under-developed infrastructure (the railways, roads, electricity), under-developed agriculture and poor governance, among others.

 

 

 

The VP urged people to take advantage of the improved infrastructure like roads, ICT backbone and electricity by engaging in income-generating activities to fight homestead poverty.

"I urge leaders at all levels in Wakiso to guide people to participate in urban farming, poultry, zero grazing, artisan work and value addition."

Ssekandi also cautioned youth against joining misguided groups but instead focus on improving their welfare through productive activities.

Several leaders, including the state minister for education and Wakiso district woman MP Rosemary Seninde, Busiro East MP Medard Sseggona, district chairman Matia Bwanika and NRM district chairman, Abdul Kiyimba.

They re-echoed their demand for city status for Wakiso and for an increase of funding for the district.

"We want the cabinet to help us on this issue," said Bwanika.

"The district is still regarded as rural district yet most of the people in Kampala reside here. We also need all our roads to be tarmacked being near Kampala."

On his part, Ssegona said the district needs more funding to plan for its population  "before it is too late".

Students of Kinaawa High school do the goose march (well, kind of). (Credit: Roderick Ahimbazwe)

 

Uganda Prisons staff raise dust as they do their goose march. (Credit: Roderick Ahimbazwe)

 

 

From left, Matia Bwanika, VP Edward Ssekandi and MP Rosemary Seninde at the event. (Credit: Roderick Ahimbazwe)

 

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