Joel Ogwang
16 September 2008
Kampala — Fourty eight acres of land has been acquired for the construction of the Buikwe district headquarters.
The technical adviser to the steering committee, Mathias Kigongo, said the land that belongs to the Buganda Kingdom, was acquired after a series of negotiations.
"We resolved to remit some money to the kingdom coffers. However, this is not rent," he said. Kigongo said the former Buikwe health centre IV premises would house the district offices as construction goes on.
Buikwe county has moved closer to a district status following local government minister Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire and trade minister, Janat Mukwaya's recent meeting with the district steering committee.
Otafiire said the Cabinet had endorsed 'Buikwe district', adding that it awaited ratification by the NRM caucus before parliamentary approval.
Otafiire, however, warned the district agitators, of the uphill task of running a district.
He noted that raising local revenue was the biggest challenge to districts, as well as mudslinging and in-fighting as a result of differences in political ideologies.
Kigongo said Buikwe was ready for the challenges, pointing out that besides fishing and farming, there were industries that would remit taxes to the district coffers.
Once granted a district status, Buikwe will be the second district, after Kayunga, to be curved out of Mukono.
Kigongo said the district would occupy eight sub-counties, and three town councils of Njeru, Nkokonjeru and Buikwe.
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