By Joseph Kiggundu
Members of Parliament representing Wakiso District have called on the Central Government to increase funding to the district, citing its rapidly growing population and expanding demand for public services.
The appeal was made by Busiro South MP Kenan Opio and Busiro North MP Moses Mayanja during Wakiso District’s budget conference held on Wednesday at the district headquarters.
Opio said Wakiso, being one of the country’s most populous districts, deserved increased government allocations to enable authorities to address the growing needs of its residents.
“NRM has done great things in Wakiso District, and now I want to make sure that the Central Government increases the money allocated to the district. This is a big district with a bigger population compared to other districts in the country, and we shall defend this issue in Parliament together with my fellow colleagues,” Opio said.
He commended the district leadership for preparing what he described as a pro-people budget, pledging to work with fellow legislators to push for increased funding.
Mayanja challenged district authorities to include all their priority needs in the budget, assuring them of his support in presenting and defending the district’s interests in Parliament.
He urged the district to prioritise agricultural development through initiatives such as the one-acre model, environmental protection, road infrastructure and improved access to essential services.
Mayanja also expressed concern that successful farmers in Wakiso were not adequately recognised, yet their experiences could be used to inspire and educate other residents.
On environmental conservation, he called for stronger measures to protect wetlands, including fencing and enforcement against illegal developments. He questioned why environmental protection had not received sufficient attention in the district’s budget.
The MP also challenged district officials to identify communities without electricity and incorporate their needs into the budget to guide government intervention.
He further disputed claims by district water officials that water coverage stood at 80 per cent, arguing that many residents still lacked access to safe and clean water.
Meanwhile, Wakiso District Council Speaker Ibrahim Kazibwe warned district officials against allocating wetlands to developers, saying the council would not tolerate developments in protected areas.
Kazibwe also urged the technical team to ensure that all projects and activities included in the budget are implemented, adding that councillors would conduct grassroots inspections to establish whether planned interventions had been delivered.
He warned officials involved in corruption that they would be held accountable under the law.
The Acting District Education Officer, Prime Ritah Nanyanzi, highlighted the need for additional classrooms and sanitation facilities in several schools across the district.
The Acting District Engineer, Lilian Namutebi, called for more road maintenance units, noting that the district currently has only one unit despite the extensive road network requiring maintenance.
District officials were also urged to involve local leaders in the implementation of public projects to strengthen transparency, community participation and accountability.