Mbale to conduct fresh property rates valuation

Mbale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Mbale city authorities have contracted Covae U Ltd, a private firm to conduct a fresh valuation of property rates to capture sub-counties annexed to the city.

The previous evaluation conducted by then Mbale municipality only covered Northern, Wanale, and Industrial Divisions. However, some local leaders rejected the rates, saying they were never involved in the exercise, which saw the evaluators include residential properties.

Now, the city authorities say they have decided to conduct fresh valuation of all properties including those in the sub-counties that were annexed to the city through the USAID Domestic Revenue Mobilization for a development project that runs for five years.

Mbale City Clerk, David Kyansanku, said that the biggest problem of cities in the country is property rates valuation. He says that in 2020, the government together with USAID resolved to have all the properties in the annexed sub-counties valued to improve the revenue of the cities.

Joseph Lawrence Biribonwa from Covae U Ltd, which has been contracted to conduct the valuation, says that they are starting with engaging stakeholders before they conduct a public meeting next Monday. He said that at the end of the entire process, they will come up with a digital property roll to ensure transparency.

Ahamada Washaki, the Mbale City Resident Commissioner says that during the property valuation exercise, it is important that the city authorities and the contractor ensure transparency and follow due process. Harriet Kakayi, the Mbale city deputy mayor said that as properties are valued and residents pay the taxes, they want to see value for money through service delivery.

David Wetaka, the President of Mbale City Development Forum, says there is need for extensive mobilization before the program kickoff. He said the program of valuing properties in the city is timely because the city is doing badly in terms of local revenue mobilization.

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