Kampala Lord Mayor Ronald Balimwezo has opposed a suggestion to transfer Uganda’s capital from Kampala to Nakasongola, insisting that any such far-reaching change must involve extensive public consultation and follow the proper constitutional procedures.
His comments come in response to a recent proposal by Minister of State for Urban Development Margaret Muhanga, who urged a fresh look at the Vision 2040 framework and the possibility of creating a new capital in Nakasongola District.
Last week Muhanga maintained that Kampala had grown too hard to administer and was becoming increasingly unliveable.
She proposed that constructing an entirely new city could offer a lasting answer to the capital’s problems.
Balimwezo countered that Kampala’s position cannot simply be altered by a government declaration.
He stressed that the people of Uganda—especially those living in Kampala—must take part in any decision about the city’s future.
“Kampala became the capital of Uganda in 1962, and any decision to change the capital would require careful consideration of the constitutional and legal implications,” Balimwezo said.
He further insisted that the idea should undergo “proper consultation, public participation, and, where required, the appropriate constitutional processes.”
Defending the city’s national significance, the Lord Mayor described Kampala as the country’s economic hub and pointed out that more than 4.5 million people live, work and do business across the greater metropolitan area.
“Kampala is not just a city; it is the heartbeat of Uganda,” he said.
Rather than abandoning the capital, Balimwezo argued, the government should pour resources into upgrading its infrastructure while continuing to develop other urban centres nationwide.
He appealed for greater spending on roads, public transport, waste management, housing and other vital services to tackle Kampala’s difficulties.
The mayor also voiced concern about financing for the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), noting that the authority needs far more money if it is to carry out its planned projects.
“KCCA Budget is 2.4 trillion per financial year, but the government only manages to avail 40% which is too small to manage all the projects we intend to do. This leaves us with a gap of 60%,” he said.
In his view, Kampala’s traffic congestion could be eased through large-scale investment in public transport systems such as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), trains and a metro network.
“We want to decongest Kampala by improving public transportation through the introduction of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), trains, and a metro system. However, we currently have limited funds to implement these projects,” he said.
Balimwezo cautioned that shifting the capital risked upsetting businesses, forcing families from their homes and harming livelihoods tied to the city.
“Moving the capital would have a significant impact. It could disrupt businesses, displace families, and affect many people whose livelihoods depend on Kampala,” he said.
While welcoming the growth of other cities, he urged the government to give those newly established urban centres sufficient funding instead of relocating the national capital.
“The solution is not to abandon Kampala. The solution is to develop Kampala while strengthening and properly funding other cities across Uganda,” he said.
The Lord Mayor called for talks involving government officials, ministers, Kampala leaders, Members of Parliament and other stakeholders to identify workable answers to the capital’s challenges.
“The people of Kampala are not resistant to progress. We are resistant to decisions being made without our involvement,” he said.
He concluded that Kampala is the shared property of all Ugandans and that decisions about its future must therefore emerge from inclusive discussion and a common national vision.
