Kabarole leaders clash over city status

Development. A section of Fort Portal Town. A dispute has ensued between those in favour and against the proposal to change the name of the planned Fort Portal city to Kabarole city. PHOTO BY FELIX BASIIME 

THURSDAY JULY 27 2017

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Kabarole-leaders-clash-over-city-status/688334-4033602-prg13jz/index.html

In Summary

·         Complaint. Kabarole District local government leaders argue that Fort Portal is a foreign name imposed on them by the British colonialists, adding that the proposed city should be given a local name, Kabarole.

By MONITOR TEAM

Kabarole.

A dispute has erupted between Fort Portal Municipality leaders and their Kabarole District local government counterparts over a proposal to change the name of the planned Fort Portal city to Kabarole city.

The row was sparked off when Mr Richard Rwabuhinga, the Kabarole District chairman, during a council meeting last week moved a motion to amend the earlier resolution passed by the same council to change the name of the proposed “Fort Portal tourism city’ to ‘Kabarole tourism city”.

The Kabarole District local government leaders argued that Fort Portal is a foreign name imposed on them by the British colonialists, adding that the proposed city should be given a local name, Kabarole which they said residents have a huge cultural attachment to.

They expressed fear that if the proposed city is name Fort Portal, the name Kabarole will cease to exist because the city area is expected to cover Fort Portal Municipality and Burahya County which constitute Kabarole District.

The Kabarole District local government leaders said the name Kabarole is of cultural significance to the native Batooro and synonymous with the Tooro kingdom, citing the location of King Oyo Nyimba’s palace on Kabarole hill that overlooks Fort Portal Town.

Fort Portal Municipality MP Alex Ruhunda said: “Kabarole District is the headquarters of the entire region and the name should be Kabarole, Fort Portal tourism city should stop confusion”.

However, Fort Portal Town mayor Rev Kintu Willy Muhanga said the municipal council is autonomous from Kabarole District local government, according to the Local Government Act.

“For example, Kabarole District Local Government has a chief administrative officer who is appointed by the central government and the municipal has a town clerk who is also appointed by the central government,” Rev Muhanga said.
“We are not answerable to the district though we are under Kabarole District,” he added.

He vowed to sue Kabarole District local government for its bid to change the name of the proposed city without the consent of the Fort Portal Municipal authority.
“The proposal to change Fort Portal Municipality to Fort Portal tourism city was passed (in 2014) after several consultations with stakeholders, including division councils, but this time, the district council left us behind, why?” Rev Muhanga wondered.

Mr Nyamungo Francis, the Fort Portal Municipality deputy town clerk, said: “As an urban authority, we are still pushing towards national vision of 2040 for Fort Portal tourism city, not Kabarole tourism city”.

He added that Kabarole District local government leaders were illegally trying to change the name of the proposed city.
Both Fort Portal Municipality and Kabarole District local government in 2014 passed a resolution to allow Fort Portal Municipality become a tourism city.
Mr Joram Bintamanya, the Fort Portal Division councillor, said: “According to the proposal, both names would be maintained and people should not worry about it at all.”
He added: “Should Fort Portal town be elevated to a city status, it will be Kabarole city and Fort Portal will become one of the city divisions of Kabarole city.”
Kabarole District used to cover the whole of Rwenzori sub-region until the late president Idi Amin carved Kasese (for Bakonjo) and Bundibugyo (for Bamba/Babwisi) out of Kabarole in a bid to resolve the then tribal conflicts.

Later, the size of Kabarole kept shrinking after Kyenjojo, Kamwenge, Kyegegwa and Bunyangabu districts were carved out of it during the NRM regime.

However, some analysts say the main reason behind the move by Kabarole District local government to hurriedly change the name of the proposed Fort Portal tourism city to Kabarole tourism city is the fear to lose jurisdiction, status, civil and political structures when Fort Portal town becomes Fort Portal tourism city.
According to the Local Government Act, the city can only be created when it has a population of 350,000 people living in the same area.

Mr Muhanga, the Fort Portal Town mayor, said currently Fort Portal has only 70,000 people.
He added that the proposal to annex some sub-counties of Bunyangabu district to Fort Portal should be effected to enable the population reach 350,000.

The Bishop of Rwenzori Diocese, Rt Rev Reuben Kisembo Amooti, cautioned the leaders against arguing about the name of the proposed city, calling upon them to instead focus on delivering quality social services to the people.

By Felix Basiime, Alex Ashaba & Scovia Atuhaire