MAYOR’S ADDRESS TO THE ASIAN BUSINESS COMMUNITY ON PARTNERSHIP, INVESTMENT AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE NEW KAGADI TOWN

1. Opening and welcome

The Vice Chairperson, L.C.3, Kagadi Town Council; the Honorable Speaker, Kagadi Town Council; Members of the Executive Committee; the Principal Town Clerk and Technical Staff of Kagadi Town Council; Members of the Asian Business Community present here; invited guests; ladies and gentlemen.

Good evening, friends.

My name is Hon. Kasaija William Mugenyi, Mayor of Kagadi Town Council. I am very happy and privileged to be with you this evening at this important meeting, which is the first of its kind in the history of Kagadi Town since you, our brothers and sisters from the Asian community, settled and established yourselves here. Over the years, we have greatly benefited from the services, businesses and companies that you have brought to Kagadi Town Council and to the district at large. Your contribution to the growth of our local economy, the provision of essential services, employment and business development is highly appreciated. Despite this long-standing relationship, I have never had the opportunity to socialize and interact with you as an organized community in this manner. Therefore, tonight is a special occasion for us to strengthen our relationship, understand one another better and, most importantly, explore meaningful opportunities for working together for the future of Kagadi.

I would like to sincerely thank the Principal Town Clerk and the Electoral Mayor of Kagadi for making it possible for this important function to take place tonight. On behalf of the political leadership and the entire technical staff of Kagadi Town Council, I extend my sincere appreciation for your efforts, commitment and contribution towards bringing us together.

2. A new direction for Kagadi Town

Ladies and gentlemen, as you all know, we are the new leadership of Kagadi Town Council, and we have committed ourselves to providing a new direction for our town. Our vision is not simply to manage Kagadi as it is today, but to plan and prepare it for the Kagadi that we want to see in the future. We want a Kagadi that is well-planned, clean, organized, productive, inclusive, environmentally responsible and attractive to investors. To achieve this, we must establish strong and harmonious working relationships between Kagadi Town Council, the private sector, investors, businesses, landowners, communities, Government and development partners. We believe that when the Town Council creates a good and supportive environment, businesses can expand, investors can come in, employment opportunities can increase and the entire community can benefit.

It is against this background that we invite you, together with your friends and business partners of Asian origin in Kampala, Nairobi, other cities across Africa, Asia and indeed the rest of the world, to participate in the realization of the New Kagadi Town Development Concept 2026–2050. This is not simply a document for the Town Council. It is a development framework for all of us. It is intended to create adequate physical and economic space for the young generation, existing businesses, new investors and future developments, while laying a strong foundation for the continued growth and transformation of Kagadi Town. The success of this vision will depend on the level of cooperation, investment, commitment and participation of all stakeholders.

As we move forward, one of our first priorities is to strengthen cooperation between the political leadership, the technical team, communities and other stakeholders. We also need to encourage a positive transition from a rural mindset to an urban mindset. As Kagadi continues to grow, residents, landowners, businesses and investors must understand the importance of responsible development, proper planning, environmental protection and productive investment. Community participation must remain central to the development of our town because the transformation of Kagadi must be owned and supported by the people who live, work and invest here.

3. The New Kagadi Town Development Concept 2026–2050

The New Kagadi Town Development Concept 2026–2050 should be formally considered and launched by Kagadi Town Council as a long-term framework for the physical, economic, social and investment development of our town. Before and during its implementation, detailed physical plans should be prepared for the expanded Central Business Area, covering approximately a two-kilometer radius, while plans should also be prepared for proposed neighborhood centers including Kyomukama, Kyomunembe, Kiryani, Nyaruziba, Kikoonjo, Kyakabugahya and Kiyabyenju, Kaitabahendi and Rusiga, Kirongo Nyangereka and Bukungwe. The proposed circular road should also be physically surveyed and its alignment properly documented so that future developments do not obstruct this important infrastructure for the future expansion of Kagadi.

As part of this development agenda, we also propose the establishment of a Kagadi Town website, the recognition of progressive businesses that make significant contributions to the town, the establishment of a Leaders, Landlords, Investors and Stakeholders Forum, and the creation of a New Kagadi Development Fund. These platforms are intended to provide mechanisms for mobilizing ideas, investment, technical expertise, partnerships and resources for the development of Kagadi. We want to create a system where leaders, landowners, investors, business people, professionals and communities can regularly come together, discuss the challenges and opportunities of our town, and identify practical ways of moving Kagadi forward.

4. Planning, land and orderly growth

Ladies and gentlemen, Kagadi has a reputation for having wide and long streets, and we must protect this important advantage. As our town expands, all developments should follow approved physical plans so that we prevent disorderly growth and the emergence of slums. Land within the Central Business Area should be properly surveyed, plots should be numbered and recorded, and roads should be appropriately named. The expanded Central Business Area and neighborhood centers should be divided into planning zones to make development management more effective, with seven-member Physical Plan Implementation Committees involving local leaders and community representatives. Our major objective is to create an orderly town where roads, water, electricity, land use and public facilities are planned together, while at the same time creating an environment that gives investors confidence and encourages long-term investment.

5. Infrastructure priorities

Infrastructure will remain a major priority. We must open, improve and maintain surveyed roads and streets within the expanded Central Business Area, while the proposed circular road should connect neighbourhood centres with the main Central Business Area. Culverts and drainage systems should be provided where necessary, identified roads and land blocks should be properly surveyed and restored where required, and selected roads and streets should be considered for tarmacking. We shall continue engaging Government ministries and relevant authorities to obtain road machinery, technical assistance and funding. We shall also prioritize the improvement of the Bus Park, Taxi Park and Central Market, street lighting, physical planning and surveying. In addition, we intend to engage the Minister of Local Government on development grants, physical planning, municipal status, environmental protection, staffing and other development needs that are important to the growth of Kagadi.

6. Education and human capital

Education must also remain an important part of our development agenda. We shall work towards reviving the Education Local Strategic Development Plan and bringing together stakeholders to improve educational performance through assessment, healthy competition and recognition of outstanding schools, teachers and learners. We believe that investing in education is investing in the future workforce, leadership and economic development of Kagadi, and therefore we must create an environment in which our children and young people can develop the knowledge and skills they need to participate meaningfully in the future of our town.

7. Service areas and physical planning zones

As Kagadi continues to grow, some large villages and areas should also be considered for division into smaller service areas to improve administration, physical planning, monitoring and service delivery. Areas including Nyakarongo, Mambugu, Kirongo, Kyakabugahya and others villages/cells will be considered together with the establishment of fourteen physical planning zones across Kagadi Town. This will enable us to bring services closer to communities, improve development control and make it easier to monitor and implement physical development plans.

The Central Market should be surveyed and improved, including the provision of temporary and affordable market structures while awaiting larger Government support. Roadside markets are also proposed for Kiryani, Kaitabahindi and Kasebere, and the relevant roadside plots should be properly identified, planned and managed. Community project committees of seven members should be established to oversee development projects in their respective areas and to strengthen community participation and ownership of development initiatives.

8. Small-scale industry and enterprise

We also recognize the importance of small-scale industries in creating employment and supporting household incomes. Kagadi Central's small-scale industrial zones should be improved through better roads, water, electricity and sanitation. Junkalis and other small-scale producers should be organized into development groups and supported with skills training, machinery, financial assistance, enterprise development, value addition and financial management. Young people involved in these activities should be identified and connected to relevant institutions that can provide appropriate technical and financial support. This is important because we want our young people to become producers, entrepreneurs and employers rather than simply looking for employment elsewhere.

9. Environment and land use

At the same time, development must go hand in hand with environmental responsibility. Kagadi should develop a comprehensive land-use and environmental strategy focusing on protecting wetlands and other natural resources, planting trees, recycling and reusing materials, improving waste disposal and promoting sustainable development. A local environmental policy should guide responsible development while protecting the natural resources upon which our communities depend. We also propose establishing a training centre and satellite training centres to support skills development and other programmes that can contribute to the social and economic development of our people.

10. Local revenue and financial sustainability

Ladies and gentlemen, a growing town also requires a strong and sustainable local revenue base. We therefore need to improve local revenue collection while building a positive and constructive relationship between revenue payers and collectors. The development concept proposes a target of UGX 2 billion within five years, supported by transparency, accountability, fair collection systems and strategic investment in projects capable of generating returns. Properly planned land should be utilized for commercial and public facilities, civic centres, institutional land, industrial hubs, parking areas, markets, recreational facilities, tourism attractions, a theatre, ICT and innovation facilities and an airstrip. These are not simply physical developments; they represent opportunities to create employment, generate revenue, attract investment and expand the economic base of Kagadi Town.

11. Community priorities

Our community consultations have also identified important priorities that must be addressed as we develop. Security remains essential, and we must strengthen the protection of residents, animals, farms, coffee plantations and other property. Water is another important priority, and we must improve access to safe and reliable water through piped systems, wells, ponds and other suitable sources. We also need practical measures to support, protect and rehabilitate vulnerable street children. In addition, we should encourage communities to form SACCOs and other savings and financial groups that can help members save, access loans and develop sustainable businesses.

12. Invitation to partnership and investment

Ladies and gentlemen, I want to emphasize that we are not here simply to ask you to listen to our plans. We are here to invite you to become partners in those plans. You have already demonstrated your ability to invest, establish businesses, create employment and contribute to the local economy, and we now want to strengthen that relationship. We want to see more investment in Kagadi. We want to see new businesses, expanded businesses, industries, commercial buildings, services, technology, tourism and other opportunities that can contribute to the growth of our town.

We therefore invite you to look at the New Kagadi Town Development Concept 2026–2050 not merely as a Town Council document, but as an investment opportunity and a shared development agenda. If you have ideas, bring them forward. If you have capital, consider investing it in Kagadi. If you have technical expertise, share it with us. If you have business networks in Kampala, Nairobi, other parts of Africa, Asia or elsewhere in the world, connect them to Kagadi. If you have partners who are looking for new investment opportunities, invite them to Kagadi. We want Kagadi Town Council to become a place where investors feel welcome, where businesses can grow, where partnerships are respected and where development benefits both investors and the wider community.

The development of Kagadi cannot be the responsibility of the Town Council alone. It is a shared responsibility that belongs to all of us. The Town Council has a role, Government has a role, the private sector has a role, landowners have a role, investors have a role, the Asian community has a role, local communities have a role, development partners have a role, and the young people of Kagadi have a role. When all these stakeholders work together with a common purpose, the transformation of Kagadi becomes much more achievable.

13. Proposed action points

For your perusal, consideration and acknowledgement, we have provided a summary of the proposed action points. However, our greatest hope is that these action points will not remain on paper. Let us turn them into action. Let us turn plans into roads, available land into productive investment, ideas into businesses, businesses into employment opportunities, partnerships into development, and Kagadi's potential into a prosperous reality.

14. A call to invest, partner and develop

I therefore call upon each one of you to carefully consider where you can participate in this development journey. Invest in Kagadi. Partner with Kagadi. Develop Kagadi. And grow together with Kagadi. As Kagadi Town Council, we are committed to working with you, listening to you, supporting responsible investment and creating an environment where businesses can thrive. We want you to see Kagadi not simply as a place where you do business today, but as a place where you can invest for tomorrow and for generations to come.

Let us build a relationship where the success of your businesses contributes to the success of Kagadi, and where the success of Kagadi creates even greater opportunities for your businesses. Let us work together as stakeholders of Kagadi Town Council, not as separate groups, but as partners with a common interest in building a better and more prosperous town.

Ladies and gentlemen, the New Kagadi Town Development Concept 2026–2050 represents a vision of what Kagadi can become if we choose to plan together, invest together and work together. We have the land, we have the people, we have businesses, we have entrepreneurs, we have investors, and we have young people with energy, talent and ideas. Most importantly, we have the opportunity to build a better future together. What we need now is commitment, partnership, investment and collective action.

15. Closing remarks

On behalf of the political leadership of Kagadi Town Council, I warmly invite the Asian community and all other stakeholders to walk with us on this journey. Let us make Kagadi a town where people want to live, where businesses want to invest, where young people can find opportunities, where communities can prosper, and where future generations will be proud of what we built together.

Together, let us build the New Kagadi Town. Together, let us invest in its future. Together, let us transform our ideas into practical development. Together, let us make Kagadi a modern, prosperous, inclusive, sustainable, green, smart and investment-ready town.

Once again, I warmly welcome you all, and I sincerely thank you for finding time to join us this evening. I look forward to your partnership, your investment, your ideas and your continued contribution to the development of Kagadi Town Council.

Thank you very much, and God bless you all.