Gideon Tumwijukye | Tayari News | 9th June 2026
Rukiga District has commissioned its newly constructed council hall, bringing an end to months of disagreement between councillors and the district technical team over delays in putting the facility into use.
The modern council hall was constructed by MKET Construction Company Limited at a cost of over 284 million shillings. Construction works commenced on October 16, 2025, and were expected to be completed by April 16, 2026.
According to the District Engineer, Deogratious Mutabazi, although the building was completed on schedule, its handover and commissioning were delayed due to the absence of furniture.
“We could not commission a building that was not fully functional. The district leadership agreed that the council hall should only be handed over after it had been furnished to the required standards,” Mutabazi said.
The delay sparked concerns among councilors of the 2021–2026 term, many of whom expressed frustration at the prospect of leaving office without conducting a single council sitting in the facility they had championed.
The matter came to the fore during the district’s final council session of the current political term, held at the old district council chambers at the district headquarters.
Former Rwamucucu Sub-county councilor Sam Niwandinda questioned why the completed building had remained unused despite construction works having been finalized.
Niwandinda said it was unfair for leaders who lobbied and pushed for the construction of the modern council hall to leave office without benefiting from the facility.
“We worked hard to lobby for this project and ensure that it became a reality. It is disappointing that councilors who fought for this development would leave office without even holding one sitting in the new chambers,” he said.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Rukiga District Speaker Oscar Akampurira credited former District Chairperson Robert Mbabazi Kakwerere and the previous council for lobbying and ensuring that the district secured the council hall project.
“This facility is a result of the commitment and vision of the previous leadership. They laid the foundation for this achievement, and the district should recognize their contribution,” Akampurira said.
He, however, noted that it was unfortunate that the leaders who spearheaded the initiative did not get the opportunity to deliberate from the new chambers before the end of their term.
The newly elected Rukiga District Chairperson, Simon Mutebi Rwamagyenda, pledged to ensure that the new facility is fully utilized in advancing service delivery and strengthening local governance in the district.
“We now have a modern council hall that reflects the growth of our district. My administration will ensure that this facility is fully utilized to improve governance and service delivery for our people,” Rwamagyenda said.
The commissioning of the council hall is expected to provide a more conducive environment for council business and marks a significant milestone in Rukiga District’s infrastructure development efforts.