The government is preparing to gradually relocate some ministries, departments and agencies from Kampala to Nakasongola as part of plans to establish a new administrative capital.State Minister for Urban Development Margaret Muhanga told Parliament’s Lands and Housing Committee that President Yoweri Museveni supports the proposed capital shift, which could be implemented in phases up to 2040.Muhanga said the move is driven by Kampala’s congestion, poor urban planning and the economic losses caused by traffic.
“We lose $1.6 billion annually due to this traffic jam,” she said, describing Kampala as “unlivable” and arguing that government must move.She said Nakasongola was selected because of its central location, abundant land and relatively low population density, offering an opportunity to build a well-planned administrative city from scratch.
The minister stressed that Kampala would not be abandoned and would remain an important commercial centre.Lands and Housing Committee Chairperson Edson Rugumayo welcomed the proposal but asked government to provide a clear implementation plan, suggesting that key institutions such as Parliament and the Executive could lead the relocation.If implemented, the plan would mark one of the biggest changes to Uganda’s administrative structure, shifting the government’s operational centre from Kampala to Nakasongola.
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