Parliament Creates 23 New Districts

Parliament has finally approved the creation of 23 new districts in various parts of the country.

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The new districts will further raise the number of legislators in the next Parliament following earlier motions for the creation of municipalities and counties.

Parliament had in recent sittings failed to pass the motion due to lack of quorum.

In the sitting on Thursday, 3 September 2015, 196 Members of Parliament supported the motion; six voted against; with three abstaining from the vote.

The Minister of Local Government, Hon. Adolf Mwesige, said in the motion that it was considered necessary to create the districts “for effective administration of those areas and bring services closer to the people.”

He said that the creation had taken into account the means of communication, geographical features, destiny of the population, the economic viability and the wishes of the people concerned.

The districts created include: Kagadi, Kakumiro, Omoro and Rubanda – to become effective on July 1, 2016; Namisindwa, Pakwach, Butebo, Rukiga, Kyotera and Bunyangabu – to become effective on July 1, 2017.

Others are Nabilatuk, Bugweri, Kasanda, Kwania, Kapelebyong and Kikuube – to become effective on July 1, 2018; and Obongi, Kazo, Rwampara, Kitagwenda, Madi-Okollo, Karenga and Lusot – to become effective on July 1, 2019.

Legislators however continued to complain of their areas not being given district status despite forwarding the required documents to the Ministry of Local Government.

The Opposition Chief Whip, Hon. Cecilia Ogwal, appealed to government to create Terego district, which she said had remained an island in West Nile.

She said Lango region had been marginalised considering that the population of Oyam district deserves three to four constituencies, each of which qualifies to be turned into a district.

Hon. Joseph Matte, Hon. Boaz Kafuda and Hon. Nandala Mafabi all said there was need to create more districts in Burendera, Kasese and Buwalasi (Mbale).

Minister Mwesige said there was “need for more patience and engagement” about the issues of creation of Terego district and another out of Tororo district.

He said that in order to avoid the escalation of conflict in Kasese, where serious disagreements are reported, the creation of a new district would lead to more divisions in the area.

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