The State Minister of Finance in charge of general duties Hon Henry Musasizi Ariganyira has said that Kabale municipality will not be upgraded to a city citing that the government no longer has such plans.
Minister Musasizi made the revelation yesterday while delivering his speech at a thanksgiving that was held at St Mary’s cathedral Rushoroza located at Rushoroza hill in Kabale municipality.
Musasizi explained that the elevation of Kabale to city status failed because the finance committee was advised by President Yoweri Museveni that these cities only bring expenses as they need new administrators such as Members of Parliament, Lord Mayors,
The president also advised that the cities come with increased taxes which doesn’t generate income to both the country and residents of Kabale and Kigezi at large.
He narrated that president Museveni told them to inform the public that people should focus on working hard as a way of developing their household incomes and to engage themselves in the government programs such as parish development model and to get government loans from banks such as small-scale business funds than creating new administrative units that do not help in generating income.
Kabale municipality was among the 15 that were In May 2019 approved by cabinet for elevation to city status in a phased manner .
In the first lot, Arua, Gulu, Jinja, Fort portal and Mbarara were elevated to city status, in the second cohort, Hoima and Mbale in 2021, while Lira and Entebbe will be in the third lot of elevation. Others are Nakasongola, Moroto, Masaka, Soroti, Kabale and Wakiso.
According to authorities, Kabale City boundary consultations were to be made in 2025.
