Summary:
- Halting the creation of new cities is a bold step toward sustainable development. The government is now redirecting resources to essential services rather than chasing the illusion of urban expansion.
OP-ED: In a strategic move, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni and his Cabinet decided in December to pause the creation of additional cities. This well-timed decision shifts the focus from short-term ambitions to addressing the immediate, pressing needs of the people.
The challenges faced by Uganda’s newly established cities highlight the dangers of hasty urbanization. Despite initial enthusiasm, many of these cities are still struggling to provide even basic services.
A staggering 78% of urban roads remain unpaved, nearly half of urban households lack access to clean, reliable water, and sanitation systems are woefully inadequate.
These cities, burdened by poor waste management and fragile infrastructure, are little more than empty symbols of unchecked urban expansion.
Heavily reliant on central government funding, these cities suffer from alarmingly low local revenue generation. Most cities raise an average of UGX 1.3 billion (USD 350,000) annually far below what is needed to meet their operational demands.
This dependency has created a cycle of inefficiency, putting immense strain on the central budget.
The Auditor General’s 2022 report further revealed a budget shortfall of UGX 41.2 billion (USD 11 million) across the ten new cities.
Struggling with these financial limitations, these municipalities cannot provide even basic services, let alone pursue meaningful development. The question is clear: Do Ugandans need more cities or better services? It’s akin to building a mansion with no food on the table, or buying a luxury car with no money for your children’s tuition.
Uganda’s rising public debt has become unsustainable in recent years, with loans increasingly directed toward projects that offer little immediate benefit to citizens.
Borrowing to establish new cities or construct offices for administrative staff only exacerbates financial pressure, diverting funds from essential sectors like healthcare, education, and agriculture.
This reckless borrowing is untenable. Uganda’s debt currently stands at UGX 96 trillion and is projected to exceed UGX 100 trillion by 2025.
The country cannot afford to invest scarce resources in politically driven urban expansion while its citizens endure crumbling schools, a failing healthcare system, and deteriorating infrastructure.
The doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:50,000 is a glaring example of misplaced priorities, as is the fact that 30% of schools in these cities lack basic amenities such as classrooms and toilets.
This is not the portrait of a nation on the verge of transformation, but one grappling with the consequences of flawed decision-making.
Recently, the government rationalized several agencies, a move projected to save up to UGX 2.2 trillion annually. This offers a potential lifeline for redirecting funds toward critical sectors.
Earlier this year, President Museveni highlighted that the 135-kilometer Masaka-Kampala road was built at a cost of UGX 440 billion.
He pointed out that the UGX 2.2 trillion lost annually to inefficient agencies could instead fund the construction of five such roads every year.
Over a five-year term, this would amount to UGX 11 trillion, enough to build 25 roads stretching 3,375 kilometers.
Such initiatives demonstrate that Uganda can, with the right priorities, overcome its financial challenges and focus on meeting its citizens’ basic needs.
The Equal Opportunities Commission’s 2022/2023 report revealed the inadequacy of many new cities to function as effective urban centers. Only Mbale and Arua meet the population and planning standards outlined in Uganda’s 2017 National Urban Planning Policy.
Cities like Jinja, Lira, Masaka, and Mbarara along with the recently proposed cities fall far short. These findings underscore the recklessness of establishing cities without a clear, sustainable operational plan.
Halting the creation of new cities is a bold step toward sustainable development. The government is now redirecting resources to essential services rather than chasing the illusion of urban expansion.
In doing so, it prioritizes the well-being of its citizens over fleeting political victories.
The Cabinet’s decision reflects a governance style grounded in conscience. It is leadership that looks beyond the lure of short-term applause and chooses to invest in long-term progress.
True progress is not measured by the number of cities built but by the quality of life those cities provide.
As the saying goes, “A nation is not built by monuments, but by the lives of its people.” Uganda’s leadership has embraced this truth. It is a commitment to repair broken roads before constructing new ones, to light homes before building city halls, and to nourish minds before feeding egos.
The writer is the LC5 Male Youth Councillor for Rubanda District.
Wilfred Arinda Nshekantebirwe
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