Mbarara District Local Government is looking for 100 million Shillings to shift its departmental offices from the City Council to Kashari, about 35 kilometres from the city centre.
After the elevation of Mbarara Municipality to city status, the district resolved to relocate to Bwizibwera-Rutooma Town Council at the Former Kashari County Headquarters. Currently, the Mbarara District administration is operating from Kamukuzi in Mbarara City North Division.
Mbarara District Chairperson Didas Tabaro says that the delay to shift the administration is caused by a lack of money to facilitate the process. He explains that the central government has not released its portion of the startup funds for each of the 10 districts that were affected by the creation of new cities.
Tabaro says as the district is waiting for the fulfilment of the government allocation of two billion Shillings. But he adds that in the interim, they are looking for 100 million Shillings to start the process of shifting to the new proposed site where they agreed to construct the new administration block.
He says they will shift the Education department first because it remains the most sought-after community-based office.
Mbarara Chief Administrative Officer Edward Kasagara says the funds will be used to renovate the now dilapidated buildings of the former Kashari County Headquarters. He says that the architectural plan has been finalized and soon a contractor will also be identified to undertake the task.
Agaba Senex Barigi, a resident of Rwanyamahembe says the delay to shift the offices has affected service delivery contrary to the intention of creating new administrative units.