The minister for Local Government Raphael Magyezi has criticized severely a decision by Nakasongola district council to create a new sub-county contrary to ministry’s directive on suspension of creation of new local government administration.
On May 11th, the council sitting at Nakasongola district council hall resolved to create a new sub-county of Wajala, carving it out of Wabinyonyi and Lwampanga sub-countieshe
The decision is according to minister Magyezi a waste of time and government resources by the council.
“The action by Nakasongola leaders is wastage of time and resources. The motion passed creating a new sub-county has no bearing. Nakasongola should instead focus on development projects as they strategise for a city status to be rolled out in 2023,” Magyezi said.
On April 9th, government suspended the creation of new administrative units and local governments across the country however, the Nakasongola district authorities have defied the directive.
The Nakasongola district council Vice Chairperson Samuel Tingira, who laid the motion in support of the creation of Wajala Sub-county, said the new demand is in the interest of the public.
“The creation of the new Sub-county is in the interest of our people,” Tingira explained.
According to Tingira, the new Wajala Sub-county will comprise Nakasongola Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Airfield, and Kikoiro, Kibuye, among other areas that will be carved from the sub-counties of Wabinyonyi and Lwampanga.
He expressed that the council is aware of circular from the Ministry of Local Government that suspended the creation of new administrative units and local governments, but dismissed it saying it is not binding and is subject to adjustment by authorities in government.
In the April 9 circular, Minister Magyezi, citing Section 7(10) and Section 95 of the Local Government Act, wrote: “I am suspending the creation of new villages, parishes/wards, sub-counties, town councils, municipal divisions, municipalities, city divisions, cities and districts with effect from April 9. Processes for split, merger or alteration of boundaries of local governments and administrative units should be halted until further notice.”
The decision was backed up by the district Chief Administrative Officer Felix Majeme, Bernard Bogere, district councillor for Wabinyonyi Sub-county and a number of councillors.
Asked about the consenquences for defying minister Magyezi’s directives, Bernard Kamoga, one of the district councillors had this to say:
“Several other district councillors argued that the same government that passes the laws has on several occasions broken its own guidelines. We shall not wait to see other areas benefiting from government services before we act. We have passed the motion and government will guide if they find our decision not right.”
