Kampala — PARLIAMENT has approved the creation of seven new districts. The districts are Zombo, Amudat, Otuke, Lamwo, Kyegegwa, Buikwe and Buyende. Zombo was created out of Nebbi district with its headquarters at Zombo trading centre.

Amudat was cut out of Nakapiripirit district and has its headquarters at Amudat trading centre while Otuke was carved out of Lira with its headquarters at Alangi.

Lamwo district was previously part of Kitgum and has its headquarters at Lamwo township.

Kyegegwa was created out of Kyenjojo, Buikwe out of Mukono and Buyende out of Kamuli.

The districts were voted on one after the other by show of hands. The Constitution requires majority support when altering the boundary of a district or creating a new one. Parliament however ended prematurely after the MPs disagreed over the proposed Maracha district, a county in Arua.

There were objections from the opposition MPs after Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi asked the House to defer the decision on Maracha pending further consultations.

"It is our view that we should stand over Maracha. We are consulting over these matters," said Nsibambi amidst protest from opposition MPs.

Maracha was originally supposed to be one district with Terego. But local leaders disagreed on the location of the headquarters. They then agreed to create a separate district for Maracha.

Terego is represented in Parliament by Opposition chief whip Kassiano Wadri while Maracha is represented by Alex Onzima (FDC).

Following Nsibambi's statement, Wadri objected demanding an explanation why the decision on Maracha was being put on hold. "Right from the beginning there has been consensus that we vote on this matter," he said.

Deputy Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, who presided over the proceedings, ignored Wadri's objection and instead told MPs to vote on the creation of the Namayingo district, previously part of Bugiri district.

A heated argument among MPs erupted. Subsequently, Kadaga adjourned the House to Tuesday without announcing the results on Namayingo.

Earlier, on Tuesday, a heated debate ensued over the creation of Maracha district. Local government minister Adolf Mwesige had proposed that Terego remains part of Arua district.

Wadri opposed the creation of Maracha as a separate district excluding Terego.

Attorney General Khiddu Makubuya advised that the process for turning the two counties into a district was never completed.

Disaster preparedness minister Tarsis Kabwegyere blamed the impasse on the two MPs, Wadri and Onzima, who had failed to agree on the location of the district headquarters.