Minister Magyezi forms committee to resolve property feud between Mbarara city and district

Mbarara, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Local Government Minister Raphael Magyezi has constituted a ten-man committee to determine equitable sharing of property between Mbarara city and district.

Basil Bataringaya, the Kashari South Member of Parliament chairs the committee which also includes five MPs drawn from the city and Mbarara district, Mbarara city mayor, LC V chairperson, City clerk, and Chief Administrative Officer.

The committee has two weeks to come up with a report that will guide the minister to determine property sharing. Bataringaya says that their task is to ensure that no property in the city is sold, disposed off or leased, examine the list of properties that the city has and those of the district, propose equitable sharing of the properties between the city and the district, submit a report with recommendations to the minister of local government on what actions to take.

At the inauguration of Mbarara city last year, Minister Magyezi directed that the Mbarara district leadership remain at its current site until government constructs for it an administration block.

Mbarara district local government and Mbarara city council have been feuding over the Administration building that hosts Makerere University Business School Mbarara branch, Council Hall, Presidential house, and Kakyeka Stadium among others found in Kamukuzi division, Mbarara City.

At the inauguration, Magyezi directed the city to inherit the property of the district including the administrative headquarters. Recently, the district council passed a resolution stopping Mbarara City council from holding events in some of the properties until further notice.

Didas Tabaro, Mbarara district LC V chairperson says that they are not ready to give up their assets noting that the titles of the properties are in the names of Mbarara district local government. He says that surrendering the properties means giving on about Shillings 900million generated in local revenue.

Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi, the Mbarara City Mayor says there is an urgent need to address the dispute between the two administrative units over property. He explains that public property belongs to the government and any income raised from the property serves the citizens.

Kakyebezi asks the district to follow the government policy on assets once a new administrative unit is created.

He says Kamukuzi hill was a seat for greater Ankole Kingdom and owned much of the land currently in the hands of Mbarara district local government.

He however says that Mbarara surrendered various property and land when it gave birth to Isingiro, Ibanda, Kiruhura and Rwampara districts.

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