MASAKA- Attempts by Masaka district to upgrade to a city are being threatened by the delay to annex some parts of the neighbouring districts which will contribute to the 300,000 population – a legal requirement for a city in Uganda.
The leaders of Lwengo and Kanungu districts have delayed to endorse the annexation of some parts of their districts by the newly-proposed Masaka city.
According to the Vice Chairperson Lwengo district, Christopher Ssensalire, the Masaka district leaders failed to engage them but rather decided to run the city proposal campaign through the media.
“The Masaka leadership did not consult us.”Ssensalire complained.
The Kalungu District Chairperson Richard Kyabaggu accused the leadership in Masaka of being non cooperative saying this has escalated the delays in the annexation of Kalungu Rural Sub-county.
Mr. Kyabbagu also explained that they had expected to get a team from Masaka to discuss with them the details of the annexation but this was all in vain.
The Masaka city proposal has already completed annexation of the six sub counties that make up the Masaka district.
The six sub-county councils in Masaka include; Kabonera, Bukakkata, Buwunga, Kyannamukaaka, Mukungwe and Kyesiiga and these have cleared the idea of the whole district being transformed to a city.
However the Mayor of Masaka Municipality Godfrey Kayemba Afaayo has declined to the idea of upgrading the whole district to a city saying that the district stands to lose a lot if it is entirely upgraded into a city.
“If the whole district is made a city, we shall not get the UGX 25bn that is allocated to Masaka as a district.” he warned.
State Minister for Local Government Jennifer Namuyangu clarified that Masaka deserves to become a city whether or not it gets resolutions from Lwengo and Kalungu.
Nine districts will be upgraded to cities including; Mbarara, Mbale, Masaka among others.