Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja
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NEWS– The Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja revealed that plans are underway within Government to operationalize the remaining five cities on 1st July 2025 before the 2026 general elections.

Nabbanja made the revelation while responding to a question raised by Entebbe Municipality Michael Kakembo during the Prime Minister’s Question Time, during the Tuesday 8th August 2024 plenary sitting.

Kakembo wonderful how new Cities were created and approved by the 10th Parliament. There is need to operationalize these cities to enable us prepare for the forthcoming general elections and demarcation of constituencies. When will Government operationalize Entebbe City?”

The Prime Minister noted that Government in April 2020 created 15 cities in Uganda to be operationalized in a phased manner. The 10 cities included; Arua, Mbarara, Gulu, Jinja, Fort Portal, Mbale, Masaka, Hoima, Lira and Soroti took effect on 1st July 2020.

These were followed by 5 cities of; Entebbe, Moroto, Nakasongola, Kabale, Wakiso that were meant to be operationlised as follows; with Entebbe City meant for operationalization on 1st July 2023.

She added that the operationalization of the remaining 5 Cities was hampered r in August 2020, when the Local Government Act Cap 138 was amended; requiring that midterm operationalization of Administrative Units and Local Governments can only take effect six months before the general elections.

“This amendment affected the next phase of 5 cities. The Ministry of Local Government is currently carrying out the technical studies and consultations with stakeholders in the 5 cities to prepare them for operationalization on 1st July 2025, subject to the guidance of Cabinet,” said Nabbanja.

During the same Prime Minister’s Question Time, Andrew Ojok (Omoro County) also asked the Prime Minister to clarify on Government plans to support new Administrative Units with offices and Council Halls?

The Premier explained that over time, Government has approved requests for alteration of boundaries for a number of Administrative Units resulting into the creation of 385 Sub-counties and 355 Town Councils totaling to 740 Administrative Units.

However, out of the 740 Administrative Units, Nabbanja revealed that 327 require Office Blocks whose construction will require Shs36.62Bn and Government plans to construct these Office Blocks in a phased manner over 2 financial years, starting in 2025/26.