Goodbye Kampala! Gov’t Moves To Shift Capital City To Nakasongola

By Swift Reporter

The government has revived plans to establish a new administrative capital in Nakasongola, with the proposed relocation of ministries, departments and agencies expected to begin gradually under the country’s long-term development framework.

Minister of State for Urban Development Margaret Muhanga told Parliament’s Lands and Housing Committee on Wednesday that the proposal is intended to address Kampala’s growing congestion, poor urban planning and pressure on existing infrastructure.

Muhanga said President Yoweri Museveni supports the idea of developing a new capital and that the transition would be implemented in phases, with government institutions gradually moving from Kampala to Nakasongola.

She said the process could extend to 2040, in line with the Vision 2040 framework, rather than being undertaken as an immediate relocation.

According to Muhanga, Nakasongola is being considered because of its central location, relatively low population and availability of land, which she said would allow government to design and develop a modern city from the ground up.

She ruled out simply shifting the capital to established regional centres such as Mbarara, Fort Portal or Gulu, arguing that some of these cities face planning challenges of their own.

The minister described Kampala’s current situation as increasingly difficult for residents and workers, pointing to traffic congestion as one of the major challenges affecting productivity.

She cited an estimated annual economic loss of $1.6 billion associated with traffic congestion in the city and said many commuters are forced to leave their homes hours before the start of the working day.

“Kampala is unlivable, it is unchangeable, it is untenable, and we must move out of it,” Muhanga said.

However, the proposed relocation would not mean abandoning Kampala.

Muhanga sought to reassure property owners and businesses in the capital that Kampala would continue to serve as an important commercial and urban centre even if key government institutions were relocated.

The proposal received backing from the committee chairperson, Edson Rugumayo, who urged government to provide a clear roadmap showing how the long-discussed relocation plan would be implemented.

Rugumayo said Parliament was ready to support the initiative if government demonstrated concrete steps towards its implementation.

He suggested that the relocation could begin with the country’s key institutions, including Parliament and the Executive.

The renewed proposal comes amid persistent concerns over Kampala’s rapid urban growth, traffic congestion and pressure on infrastructure, while the government seeks to develop more organised urban centres capable of supporting Uganda’s future population and economic activity.