By Faith Barbara N Ruhinda updated at 1358 EAT on Friday 25 April 2025

President Yoweri  Museveni has endorsed a plan to elevate Tororo municipality to city status and carve three new districts out of the current Tororo district in a bid to end decades of rivalry between the Japadhola (Badama) and Iteso (Bateso) communities.

Meeting leaders of both groups at State House Entebbe alongside vice president Jessica Alupo, Museveni said Tororo city would serve as a neutral administrative unit, while the new districts would ensure “equity and balance.”

“We have agreed on the principle, Tororo becomes a neutral city, and we create three new districts, one called Mukuju, another Mulanda, and a third one whose name should be neutral. Some people want to call it Tororo, but we are saying no, go and get a neutral name,” Museveni said.

As part of the proposed arrangement, the Iteso community would retain Mukuju, which is considered an uncontested area, and also benefit from the neutral Tororo city. On the other hand, the Japadhola community would receive two new districts, including Mulanda and the third district, whose name is yet to be agreed upon.

President Yoweri  Museveni has endorsed a plan to elevate Tororo municipality to city status and carve three new districts out of the current Tororo district in a bid to end decades of rivalry between the Japadhola (Badama) and Iteso (Bateso) communities.

Meeting leaders of both groups at State House Entebbe alongside vice president Jessica Alupo, Museveni said Tororo city would serve as a neutral administrative unit, while the new districts would ensure “equity and balance.”

“We have agreed on the principle, Tororo becomes a neutral city, and we create three new districts, one called Mukuju, another Mulanda, and a third one whose name should be neutral. Some people want to call it Tororo, but we are saying no, go and get a neutral name,” Museveni said.

As part of the proposed arrangement, the Iteso community would retain Mukuju, which is considered an uncontested area, and also benefit from the neutral Tororo city. On the other hand, the Japadhola community would receive two new districts, including Mulanda and the third district, whose name is yet to be agreed upon.

Museveni likened the arrangement to Mbale, which hosts both Mbale district and Mbale city, and criticised the protracted ethnic contest

“You people are wasting time on your people. What’s crucial is bringing services nearer to the people. That’s the reason we broke up larger districts like Bukedi, which once covered Pallisa and Busia, to create smaller, more accessible units,” Museveni said.

Alupo said both delegations, after the consultative meeting, agreed to elevate Tororo Municipality to city status, upgrade Kwapa town council to a municipality, create Mulanda district from Budama Central and Budama South, raise Nagongera town council to municipality status.

The report has been instrumental in resolving long-standing disagreements between the Japadhola and Iteso over administrative control

Invest or Donate towards HICGI New Agency Global Media Establishment – Watch video here

Email: editorial@hicginewsagency.com TalkBusiness@hicginewsagency.com WhatsApp +256713137566

Follow us on all social media, type “HICGI News Agency” .