It is all jubilation on Wednesday the 1^st of July 2020 in a handful of municipalities in Uganda that have officially shifted to cities.

The government officially launched the first batch of cities that are 7 out of 15 new cities created.

The national was graced by the speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga alongside the minister for local government Raphael Magyezi in Jinja district.

Among the  1st batch of new cities that are slated to officially kickoff  operationalization in Uganda include Arua , Fort Portal, Gulu, Jinja , Mbarara, Mbale, and Masaka.

The sec­ond lot that in­cludes Hoima, Lira and Soroti will take ef­fect on July 1, 2021, while the third  in­cludes En­tebbe City will take ef­fect on July 1, 2022.

The final group which in­cludes Wak­iso, Mo­roto, Naka­songola and Ka­bale cities are ex­pected to take ef­fect on July 1, 2023.

The minister for local government Raphael Magyezi has said these cities will raise their own revenue and are expected to be work independently in terms of sustainability.

Magyezi adds that in the meantime no one will be allowed to sell, lease or exchange fixed public assets like land or motor vehicles until further notice.

Pamela Achom