KAMPALA – In line with Section 95 of the Local Governments Act Cap 243, the Minister of Local Government has provided guidelines on how seven new cities shall operate.
Seven cities namely Arua, Fort-Portal, Gulu, Jinja, Mbarara, Mbale and Masaka commenced operations today, July 1, 2020.
According to the guidelines issued by Local Government minister Raphael Magyezi, in terms of governance, the local governments in the city shall be the city council and the city division councils.
Administrative units in the city shall be wards and cells.
Until the general elections for local government leaders are held, the composition of the city council shall be the Interim city mayor and members of the original district council representing sub counties, town councils, municipal divisions and other electoral areas within the city area of jurisdiction and members of the former municipal council.
The following shall serve as ex-officio members to the interim city council: chairperson of district women councils, Members of parliament representing constituencies within the city jurisdiction; including the District Woman MPs, chairpersons of women councils of annexed sub counties, town councils or former municipal divisions within the city jurisdiction.
The mayor of the former municipality elected by universal adult suffrage shall be the interim city mayor, subject to section 12(2) of the local Governments Act Cap 243.
The interim mayor shall nominate from among the members of the council an interim deputy city mayor and interim executive committee.
Text Box: 4The executive committee shall be composed of mayor, deputy mayor and a maximum of three secretaries. The interim city council shall neither have a speaker nor deputy speaker. The interim city mayor and interim deputy city mayor shall serve as the speaker and deputy speaker respectively.
The interim city council may appoint a maximum of five interim standing committees for the efficient performance of its functions.
Until general elections of local government leaders are held, the composition of the newly created city divisions shall be: All chairpersons of the former municipal divisions and annexed town councils and sub counties within the city division jurisdiction and All councilors representing electoral areas at the former municipal division, town council and sub county within the city division jurisdiction,
The interim city division chairperson shall be the chairperson of the former municipal division, town council or sub county hosting the city division council headquarters
The interim city division council shall neither have a speaker nor deputy speaker. The interim city division chairperson and vice chairperson shall serve as the interim city division speaker and deputy speaker respectively.
Text Box: 5There shall be an interim executive committee for each city division council composed of city division chairperson, vice chairperson and a maximum of three secretaries.
The interim city division council may appoint a maximum of five interim standing committees for the efficient performance of its functions.
The city council shall be the planning authority of the city and shall perform this function as provided for in section 35 of the Local Governments Act, Cap 243.
The city council is required to prepare a comprehensive and integrated 5-year development plan for the period FY 2020/212024/25, incorporating plans of the city divisions.
The previous bank accounts for municipalities, municipal divisions plus the annexed sub counties and fawn councils shall be closed,
New bank accounts shall be opened in the names of the city councils.
The city division council shall be the Planning Authority of the city division and shall perform this function as provided for in Section 35 of the Local Governments Act, Cap 243.
The city division council shall formulate and approve a five year development plan for the period FY 2020/21-2024/25. The previous bank accounts for divisions, and the annexed sub counties and town councils shall be closed. New bank accounts shall be opened in the names of the city division councils.