Mbale City Council Authority on Monday, held a budget consultative meeting to present detailed budget estimates for the 2025/2026 financial year, emphasizing priority interventions.
The theme focuses on the full monetization of Uganda’s economy, aiming to transform 39% of households from subsistence to a money-based economy.
The meeting was chaired by the City Mayor and attended by the Resident City Commissioner (RCC), city and division councilors, LC1s and LC2s, business community members, and other stakeholders.
Nyaribi Rhoda, the Principal Environment Officer, highlighted several challenges in her presentation, including street children and stray animals damaging plants, and noise pollution from bars, churches, mosques, megaphones, and advertisements.
Residents voiced common concerns about the poor road network in the city and suggested that the divisions of wards should be addressed other wards like Namatala is very big.
The City Town Clerk, Ambrose Ocen, in a report read by Deputy Kassim Waboga, confirmed that no new administrative units will be created this financial year.
Walusimbi Ali, President of the Mbale City Development Forum (CDF), advocated for a physical development plan covering the annexed sub-counties of Bukonde, Lwasso, Mutoto, and Namabasa.
He emphasized the need for better access to social services, road planning, security lights, healthcare facilities, and solutions for street children and vendors.
Mbale City Mayor Cassim Namugali acknowledged the city’s challenges, stressing the need for collective action rather than blame games.
He noted that the council lost over 3 billion shillings in inherited legal cases, which could have been won.
RCC Asumin Nasike, as the head of security, emphasized the need for safety measures ahead of the festive season.
She reported that over 40 youths were recently sent to Maluku Prison for security concerns and urged LC leaders to reactivate security committees to curb insecurity in the city.
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