The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Moroto, Uganda | URN | Moroto Municipality leaders are gearing up for preparations to welcome the city status.
Recently, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija announced the plans to elevate five more regional towns to city status effective 1st July 2025. The towns include Moroto, Kabale, Entebbe, Nakasongola and Wakiso. These will add to the existing older cities such as Arua, Gulu, Jinja, Mbarara, Hoima, and Lira.
With support from the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development Program, Moroto municipality constructed a modern bus terminal, tarmacking the roads within the town, installed street lights, and the central market.
Ismail Mohammed, the Mayor of Moroto Municipality said that they have seen changes in the municipality compared to the last ten years.
Mohammed said that they are taking off to ensure that they have an organized city since it is the destination for the investors. He said a lot has been done to ensure the environment is attractive and conducive for the visitors.
He described Moroto as a stop centre where visitors can enter before deciding to move around other districts in the region. Mohamed added that they have mushrooming hotel facilities because of the peace and economic opportunities around them.
According to Mohammed, facilities such as the Central Market, modern bus terminal, street lighting, and the tarmacking of the streets around the town have uplifted the face of the Municipality ready for city status.
Mohammed revealed that they have installed over 320 superior solar lights in all the corners of the Town to curb insecurity and boost the night economy. He noted that the road network has also improved the transport system, attracting many public vehicles into the region.
John Bukomba, a manager at Lavender Hotel in Moroto Municipality said that the coming of the city will boost the hotel business.
Bukomba said that the hotel industry in Moroto Municipality can host over 1,000 guests compared to the previous status. He observed that they used to have only 8 guest houses in the last six years but now they are counting over 40 and more are still coming.
He also observed that there is a daily influx of new people into Moroto and this is boosting the economic growth.
Bukomba said that they are doing everything possible to provide a friendly environment that can attract visitors and make them enjoy their stay in the city. He also observed that the availability of several minerals in the region has attracted more investors who have come in to develop the area.
Charles Anyakun, the Napak Retired District Planer and chairperson of Karamoja Traders Association said that the City status is necessary to cope with the dynamics of today’s development in the region.
Anyakun however observed that the level of private sector development in the region is still low and this is affecting the business community. He said that most of the business community is not educated and is operating informally.
Anyakun said that their Association has come in to address some of the barriers in the private sector in terms of capacity building and business skills training.
Anyakun said that he has also been advocating for the communities to settle on their lands and avoid unnecessary migrations. He said that the migration of the Karamojong community from one place to another for settlements has affected the service delivery.
He also urged the local community to consider constructing permanent houses along the roads to enable them to carry out economic activities.
Gideon Longole, the Moroto Deputy town clerk said that they are facing a challenge in addressing service delivery due to the negative attitudes from the community.
Longole the community has paid deaf ears to issues such as waste management and other government interventions to promote urban development. He also revealed that the Municipality is still grappling with the challenge of low latrine coverage in the households.
Longole said that they are carrying out sensitization meetings to encourage the community to construct toilets before the enforcement team comes in.
In December 2020, nine parishes in Moroto district were annexed to the municipal council to increase the population size of Moroto municipality which is currently 118,500.
The new parishes have been curved from the Nadunget, Loputuk, and Rupa sub-counties. They include among others Naitakwae, Nakadeli, Lobunoit, Lia, Nawanatau, and Nacogorom parishes.
****
RELATED STORY
