Stakeholders Advocate for Creation of a Municipality Out of Maracha Constituency, Ahead of 2026 General Elections.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Maracha became a district in 2010 with 7 Sub-counties (Kijomoro, Oluvu, Oluffe, Tara, Yivu, Nyadri and Oleba),  in 2016 the district was split into two Constituencies (Maracha Constituency and Maracha East Constituency), and in 2021 the 3 Sub-counties in Maracha Constituency were split forming 8 Sub-counties (Awiziru Sub-county, Okokoro Town council, Kijomoro Sub-county, Obiba Sub-county, Agaii Town council, Oluvu Sub-county, Ovujo Town council & Oluffe Sub-county) and in Maracha East constituency its 4 Sub-counties (Tara, Oleba, Yivu and Nyadri) were split into 11 Sub-counties forming ( Ajira Sub-county, Nyadri South Sub-county, Drambu Sub-county, Yivu Sub-county, Maracha town council, Tara Sub-county, Nyadri Sub-county, Oleba Town Council, Alikua Sub-county, Oleba Sub-county and Paranga Sub-county).

📸:Map of Maracha District showing the sub-counties and the population distribution Source: National population and housing census, Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) 2014.

📸: Logo of Maracha District local government.

Some stakeholders in Maracha Constituency, Maracha District are advocating for creation of new administrative unit that will be curved out of Maracha Constituency, by combining three Town councils namely; Agaii Town Council, Okokoro Town council and Ovujo Town council, ahead of the February 2026 general elections in Uganda.

Below here is meeting minutes we copied.

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MEETING TO BRAINSTORM ON THE PROPOSAL TO CREATE OVUJO MUNICIPALITY IN MARACHA COUNTY, MARACHA DISTRICT HELD ON SAT 09/11/2024 AT OTRAVU PRIMARY SCHOOL

AGENDA 

1. Prayers/Introduction

2. Communication from the Chairman

3. Brainstorming on the communication

4. Closure

ATTENDANCE 

S/N	NAME	CONTACT	SIGN
	EDONI FRANCIS	0775307938
	AFIMANI GEOFREY	0782666816
	ADIRU MILKA	0772649515
	EMAZU ISAAC	0772654234
	MATUA LAWRENCE	0777630500
	OLUBO MACARA	0782983435
	APIO PHILISTER	0788217678
	ARIO FLORENCE	0774421578
	ATIKU AMOS	0780874980
	MUNGUECONI GILBERT	0774273932
	OBETI CHARLES	0784183776
	BUATRE PHILLIAM TADAYO	0788807070
	ANESON RONALD CADRIBO	0788738893
	AYAKA ROSE ATIMA	0772511299
	EMBATIA CONSTANTINE	0788977955
	ADRIKO SIMON	0781621180
	HON. TIVU MARK	0774030874
	HON.ATIMA JACKSON	0772697472
	HON. OGUZU LEE	0776006604

MIN 1-09/MEET/OVUJO/2024 PRAYERS

The meeting started at 11:21am with prayers said by Mrs. Milka Adiru and thereafter self-introduction of the members present.

MIN 2-09/MEET/OVUJO/2024 COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Apologies Recorded:

• Can. Oneti  Batia Sam

• He said the meeting was convened to consult on the possibility at prospects of creating more administrative Units (i.e Municipality and Divisions)

• Asked the members to keep all discussions herein very confidential.

• He informed the members that Maracha benefited from 4 new Town Councils

• He however noted that in the creation of Ovujo Town Council, a big number of big institutions were left out e.g Maracha S.S, Maracha Hospital etc.

• His attempt to convince some Political leaders of the district to re-demarcate the boundaries of Ovujo was in vain.

• He informed the members of news on the media that the ban on creation of new administrative units has been lifted and also uplifting of about 23 Town Councils into Municipalities.

• He said this was shared with the district leaders particularly the Chairman who said he would table the same in executive and Council.

• However, he said he noted that there was need to consult with the other urban centers of Ovujo, Okokoro and Agaii which share common boundaries.

• The boundaries of Ovujo Town Council need to be extended up to Ayi River to include the main institutions.

• He said since he has individually faced challenges with pursuing this, he has convened this meeting.

• He asked senior citizens like Hon. Olubo and Mr. Embatia Constantine to justify the relationship between Maracha East and Maracha Constituency.

• Mr. Olubo submitted that we should not wait to start our own. The proposal was unanimously agreed by all the members.

• Mr. Embatia Constatine thanked the Chairperson (Mr. Tivu Mark) for convening the meeting.

• Informed the members that from the time of independence of Uganda to the creation of Maracha district and its counties he was present.

• Said that the Counties were established based on existing social structures hence Oluvu, Oluffe and Kijomoro Sub Counties formed Maracha county.

• Mr. Olubo said that some people wanted the district to be at Ovujo while others wanted it at Alikua. He further added that Mr. Aibaku Mutumuke in 1929 gave the current land hosting Ovujo Town Council and the surrounding institutions and the DC then sent a representative during the  deliberations of the County headquarters. The contestation was between Alikua and Ovujo.

• He narrated how Chief Adua the father of Miria fought to finally secure Ovujo.

• Historically, there has been disagreement between Maracha East and Maracha.

• The Chair said the history narrated clearly shows the social cohesion of the people of Maracha County.

MIN 3-09/MEET/OVUJO/2024 BRAINSTORMING ON THE COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

• Mr. Olubo narrated how they struggled to convince the president on the proposal to create the present 2 Constituencies of Maracha.

• Hon. Ario Florence said she was present at the time the delegation visited the president. She said the delegation sent was not well prepared.

• Mr. Matua Lawrence submitted that initially all the 3 Sub Counties of Maracha County belonged to Oluvu Parish and things were done jointly. The eventual divisions were as a result of population growth.

• Ovujo used to be the Headquarter of Maracha before creation of Maracha East.

• In the past there were issues of imbalances in allocation of resources and opportunities.

• Hon. Ayaka Rose appreciated Mr. Tivu, Hon. Olubo and many other elders. She noted the need to create a Municipality has been long overdue and acknowledges the fights between Maracha East and Maracha.

• She said she consulted the Minister over the creation of a new constituency in Maracha. However, a snag was hit when the boundaries of Ovujo crossed to other Sub Counties of Nyadri and Nyadri South.

• She pleaded with the Minister to create for Maracha 3 more Town Councils after Ovujo. However, she didn’t get the support of the people.

• She noted that the creation of the Municipalities needs the support of big persons in Government. In the future, there would even be a possibility of creating an additional district.

• She expressed skepticism on the matter of including the Villages left out of Ovujo. She said that we may not have to include them.

• Mr. Olubo asked the Hon. Rose not to worry about the obstacles she encountered. Prof. Cadribo Ronald emphasized factors like Historical factor, Social Cohesion and Political benefits make it vital to create a municipality. 

• Added that urban areas grow spontaneously though much of the areas are rural. Job Creation, infrastructure development, Social Services and many other benefits come with the creation of such a municipality. He however asked to know about the requirements to establish a Municipality.

• Cautioned against the use of political reasons why there’s need for a Municipality. He observed that attaining a middle-income status is likely to be a dream for West Nile if the people don’t Unite.

• Recollects that a majority of the active labour force is redundant.

• Hon Afimani Geofrey, the former DLC for Oluffe said he had been challenged with how he will be remembered in the history of Maracha and said he was fully in support of the proposal. Our strength is in the closeness of the Town Councils which can be merged together. The other opportunity is the presence of the technical staff.

• The existing road network connects all the 3 Town Councils. There are anticipated challenges in this proposal.

• The Chairperson said he already did consultations with some technical persons in the Ministry of Local Government and there’s need to partner with the district leaders, MPs and Ministers and cited Mr. Asendu Patrick (though not within the proposed Municipality) of MOLG would be a good resource in pursuit of the municipality.

• The Chairperson read out the names of proposed municipalities and said Commissioner Urban Development and Commissioner Local Councils have to that effect been consulted over the same.

• Mr. Embatia Constantine said he participated in the creation of Arua City, where so many antagonizing views. Warned that unless the district council comes together, the motion will be thoroughly challenged.

• Added that there’s need to solicit total support of the district Council. Maracha County is easily disintegrated.

• There’s need for quick documentation of the proposal.

• The strategic location of the proposed municipality to the international boundaries, 3 Town Councils be merged. The 3 LC III Chairpersons were urged to convene an urgent Council meetings to discuss the matter of the proposed Ovujo Municipality. The current cells should be maintained and the 3 Town Councils to become Divisions.

• The Chairperson-said the municipality will attract more funding from the government than a district.

• The 3 Chairpersons of Okokoro, Agaii and Ovujo agreed to work together and the resolutions must be documented and approved by their respective councils.

• The LC III Agaii said they are in full support of the proposed Headquarters at Ovujo. 

• Mr Adriko Simon the Town Clerk of Panyimur Town Council gave the following guidelines to facilitate the successful creation of the proposed municipality. 

1. Population of a minimum100,000 people. 

2. Clear consultation strategy from village to Parish

3. Proposed boundaries to be well defined. 

4. Co-opting more Villages/Cells to get the required Population.

5. Letters be written to the chairpersons to do consultations and adopt the population.

6. The Council of the Sub County giving villages should approve.

7. Number of divisions

8. Population consultation at Parish level.

9. Technical write-up

10. Administrative units, structures

11. Existence of physical development plans

12. Reliable water sources

13. Capacity to generate reasonable revenue (local).

14. Ovujo to write to the 2 Town Councils

15. Submission to DTPC, DEC and Council.

16. In Council all the DLCs of the affected Town Councils/Sub Counties should attend.

• The woman MP said the Councilors to the District will be met and briefed by the elders.

Technical Committee formed consisted of:

• Mr. Afimani Geoffrey

• Mr. Cadribo Ronald

• Mr. Edoni Francis

• Mr. Tivu Mark

• Mr. Embatia Constantine

• Mr. Adriko Simon

Steering Committee

• Mr. Tivu Mark Chairperson

• Mr. Olubo Tom Vice Chairperson

The elders and opinion leaders of the 3 Town Councils of Ovujo, Okokoro, Agaii seated at Otravu Primary School on 9th November 2024 therefore resolved that:  

1. The 3 Town Council be merged together because of their historical geographical background.

2. The Headquarter of the municipality should be at Ovujo because of the historical infrastructural benefits.

3. The 3 LC III Chairpersons convene an emergency council meeting to ratify the opinion of the steering.

4. The opinion leaders form a steering committee Chaired Mr. Tivu Mark, assisted by Mr. Olubo Tom Magara.

5. A task force to draft the technical requirements of the Municipality

6. The steering committee shall meet the district authorities over the demand.

7. In the mean time the resolution is passed to the Ministry.

8. We request the MP’s to pursue the same with the Ministers.

9. The neighboring Cells not within the Town councils be consulted especially the 3 Villages in Pabura and 3 Villages in Mundru and the neighboring Sub Counties be consulted to join where necessary.

• Mrs. Adiru Emily said that focus should be on only the Municipality and other administrative units can be created later. 

• She appealed for unity among the different stakeholder right from the beginning to the end with sincerity. Noted that a lot of effort is needed to develop Maracha. 

• Hon. Ayaka Rose said that such a good proposal should not be personalized and politicised for personal benefits. She noted that the existing town councils are suffering from poor funding. 

• The LC III Chairperson of Okokoro Town Council affirmed his full commitment to pursue the new municipality. 

• The meeting tasked the 3 town councils to prioritise the physical development planning. 

• The members were later joined by the two members of parliament for Arua Central and Maracha Constituency i.e. Hon. Atima Lee Jackson and Hon. Oguzu Denis Lee respectively. 

•  Hon. Jackson thanked Mr. Mark Tivu for the visionary leadership he is offering and pledged total support as a son of Maracha and also as the regional government whip for West Nile. 

• He informed the members that he personally consulted the minister of local government who confirmed that more administrative units will be created before 2026 elections. He urged the area MP to take up the proposal and he will back him up. Observed that for long, Maracha had been divided and thanked the sitting MP for working well in the 11th parliament. 

• Hinted to the members that soliciting the support of the deputy speaker and the minister responsible is very critical. 

• Honorable Denis Lee Oguzu appreciated the conveners of the meeting for the initiative. He however feared that the prevailing disunity among the people of Maracha is likely to frustrate this good idea. 

• He said that it was the right time to push this initiative since election campaigns are around the corner. Added that Maracha and West Nile in general has fewer political representation in the parliament. 

• Also informed the members of the ongoing rationalization program of government agencies which is aimed at harmonization of government expenditure. 

• Urged the members to do a thorough cost-benefit analysis of the proposed creation of the municipality. 

• Appealed that massive consultations should be done with the people to get their support. 

• Noted that a significant amount of land at Ovujo had been encroached on and appealed to the leaders to ensure that they secure all the land belonging to government. 

MIN 4-09/MEET/OVUJO/2024 CLOSING REMARKS

• Hon. Ayaka Rose said as consultations are being done, a technical report should be prepared and shared with the minister in advance to be later followed by the detailed documents. 

• The chairperson said all the resolutions should be closely followed up so as to achieved our objectives in a timely manner. 

• The next meeting was scheduled to take place on Saturday 16th November 2024. 

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