A section of locals and stakeholders in Kigezi region have demanded an apology from the Henry Ariganyira Musasizi, State minister of Finance for general duties and for him to withdraw his statement about the creation of Kabale City.
While at his thanksgiving ceremony at Rushoroza cathedral, in Southern Division, Kabale municipality On February 12, 2022, Musasizi who is also the Rubanda East constituency legislator was reported as telling those waiting for Kabale to become a city in 2025 to forget.
In 2019, Kabale Municipality was listed among municipalities that will be elevated to city status in 2023. But Musasizi nearly broke the Banyakigezi's hearts by saying that finance ministry officials met President Yoweri Museveni and agreed to halt the creation of more cities and other administrative units.
According to Musasizi, during the discussion with Museveni, they realized that the creation of more cities and other administrative units only benefits individuals politically.
Musasizi’s statement was later discredited by Raphael Magyezi, Minister for Local government who argued that the government has not yet taken a stand to change the resolution of Parliament that approved the creation of the cities. Magyezi emphasized that as far as his ministry is concerned cities including that of Kabale will soon start operations.
Musasizi’s statement is annoying a section of people from the districts of Kabale, Rubanda, and Rukiga which form greater Kabale. They accuse him of being jealous over the creation of Kabale city.
Barnabas Tugumisizire, the executive director of Rukiga Forum for Development, and Samuel Namanya, a resident in Rwamucucu sub county, insist that Musasizi should go and withdraw his statement because it has made the majority of the people in Kigezi very angry. They accuse him of being against the transformation of the region.
They wonder why Musasizi is not minding about the advantages of the city but is only worried about its negative effects. They say that Musasizi’s statement demoralizes the efforts of elders in Kigezi like former Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda who advocated that Kabale municipality also be transformed into a city.
Sam Tindimweebwa Kanyamukiza, former Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) Vice Chairman for Kigezi region, Emmanuel Twinamatsiko from Kyanamira sub county, Moses Henry Tahoreraho from Kitumba sub county in Kabale district, and Chris Turyomurugyendo, a member of National Resistance Movement (NRM) party national youth league for Kabale want Musasizi to come up and explain how Kabale residents can forget about something already endorsed by the parliament.
They also want him to explain why he is the only leader in Kigezi with such shocking news about Kabale city. They warn that the ruling party may face it rough while wooing support in the 2026 general elections in case this matter is handled early.
But, Musasizi insists without any apology that Kabale city will not kick-off.
He argues that unless the presidential pledge of tarmacking tourism roads in Kigezi region is honored and Kamukira health center IV in Kabale Municipality is elevated to the level of the hospital is done, Kabale city will not take off.
Musasizi adds that cities with poor infrastructural standards are useless.
