In short
The Fort Portal municipality leadership led by the mayor Asaba Edison Ruyonga has been meeting local leaders from the sub county with a view of convincing them to accept to be part of the municipality.
Fort Portal municipality has not given up on its quest to extend its boundaries to other sub counties. In February this year, residents and local leaders of Karambi Sub County in Kabarole district rejected a proposal by Fort Portal Municipal authorities to annex part of the sub county. The Municipality had planned to annex Butebe, Karambi and Mugoma parishes.
However, the municipal council leadership hasn’t given up on the quest for expansion and started courting the neighboring Harugongo Sub County. Harugongo was curved out Kichwamba Sub County.
The Fort Portal municipality leadership led by the mayor Asaba Edison Ruyonga has been meeting local leaders from the sub county with a view of convincing them to accept to be part of the municipality.
Asaba and the technical staff led by the Town Clerk, Edward Lwanga argue that the expansion will accelerate the development of the municipality. He explains that since Fort Portal is striving for a city status, there is need for expansion first. However, some residents have expressed reservations on proposed the expansion.
Gerald Businge, a resident of Harugongo Sub County says there is need to first develop the road infrastructure in the sub county, construct more health facilities and improve water access. Businge also doubts if Fort portal municipality can be granted a city status in the near future since developed towns like Mbarara, Mbale, Gulu and Masaka have been on the waiting list for long.
//Cue in: “it’s a dream…
Cue out: “…develop first.”//
However Faridah Mugisa, a resident of Harugongo trading centre welcomes the expansion, saying they will be able to benefit from the services in the municipality. Currently Fort Portal municipality has a population of 52,000 people in South, West and East Divisions. According to the Local government Act, a municipality must have at least 500,000 people so as to be elevated to a city status.
There must be facilities, institutions, developments and the enabling environment that automatically attract people to work, invest and stay there. The move to upgrade to a city starts with a motion in the Municipality Council and later the district council. It then goes to Parliament before a final decision is made.
The 2040 Vision lists Jinja, Hoima, Nakasongola and Fort Portal as the 4 strategic cities to be developed.
However, the municipal council leadership hasn’t given up on the quest for expansion and started courting the neighboring Harugongo Sub County. Harugongo was curved out Kichwamba Sub County.
The Fort Portal municipality leadership led by the mayor Asaba Edison Ruyonga has been meeting local leaders from the sub county with a view of convincing them to accept to be part of the municipality.
Asaba and the technical staff led by the Town Clerk, Edward Lwanga argue that the expansion will accelerate the development of the municipality. He explains that since Fort Portal is striving for a city status, there is need for expansion first. However, some residents have expressed reservations on proposed the expansion.
Gerald Businge, a resident of Harugongo Sub County says there is need to first develop the road infrastructure in the sub county, construct more health facilities and improve water access. Businge also doubts if Fort portal municipality can be granted a city status in the near future since developed towns like Mbarara, Mbale, Gulu and Masaka have been on the waiting list for long.
//Cue in: “it’s a dream…
Cue out: “…develop first.”//
However Faridah Mugisa, a resident of Harugongo trading centre welcomes the expansion, saying they will be able to benefit from the services in the municipality. Currently Fort Portal municipality has a population of 52,000 people in South, West and East Divisions. According to the Local government Act, a municipality must have at least 500,000 people so as to be elevated to a city status.
There must be facilities, institutions, developments and the enabling environment that automatically attract people to work, invest and stay there. The move to upgrade to a city starts with a motion in the Municipality Council and later the district council. It then goes to Parliament before a final decision is made.
The 2040 Vision lists Jinja, Hoima, Nakasongola and Fort Portal as the 4 strategic cities to be developed.
