Council Services
Mukono Town Council takes responsibility for all services of the local government
pertaining to the town. The authority conducts its responsibilities through
three main working committees including:
1. The Executive committee, which monitors council policies and resolutions.
2. The finance and planning committee, for planning and budgeting
3. The social services committee, which takes care of education, health water
and sanitation, culture agriculture and other social services.
Councilors from all these committees collectively meet regularly to make decisions
about various aspects of life in the town. A team of technical staff headed
by the Town Clerk implements the decisions. The council works in partnership
with a wide range of public, private and voluntary sector organizations in the
town and beyond, to plan and deliver quality services, which meet local needs.
The vision of the council is to build a livable, highly competitive, bankable
and well managed town. It seeks to provide efficient and effective delivery
of urban services including: provision of efficient administration of the townships,
maintenance of law and order, management and control of land use, protection
of public health, execution of public works and maintenance of primary schools
under the town council. The Council raises revenue through imposing taxes, rates
and dues and acquires block grants from the Central government to supplement
the revenue raised from local sources.
Social Services
Transport
The town is located 22 Km on the main highway from Kampala to Nairobi, which
serves as the key link to other major towns and cities in East and Central Africa.
Road transport is the main form of transport, using private owned commuter vehicles
and taxis. However, international visitors can also reach Mukono town by air
using the main international airport at Entebbe, which is some 62 Km away from
the town. Private tours can be arranged to pick guests from the airport to the
town and back at affordable costs.
Communication
Mukono town is directly linked to any part of the world using modern communication
systems either through the main post office services, which has 200 links on
international STD and 600 boxes or by use of mobile telecommunications services
by MTN, Celtel and UTL. The telecommunications services are efficient and can
be used to reach Mukono at any time.
Banking
A number of banking institutions are available in town to provide banking services
to the people and include: Stanbic Bank, which is the main bank, Commercial
micro finance, Pride Africa and Uganda Women’s Trust and Nile Bank. International
money transfers can be transacted through Commercial micro finance, which is
affiliated to Western Union. The banks operate on a daily basis from 8.30 a.m.
to 2. 00 p.m. during weekdays. Foreign exchange can be handled in the major
hotels for visiting guests outside Uganda.
Power
The town is served by constant electricity from the main hydroelectric power
station at Jinja.
Health
Two health centers, one a Church of Uganda institution with 20 beds and a maternity
wing and the other under the direct supervision of the Council with 15 beds
and a maternity wing are used to provide health services to town residents and
visitors. There are also a number of private clinics and dispensing chemists
in town to supplement the services of the health units. Major cases are referred
to the main hospitals in Kampala.
Water
Mukono Town has successfully completed its tireless efforts of construction
of a modern water supply system in town with the support of the Central Government.
This water portable supply has enhanced the development of the potential industrial
complex of the town.
This supply scheme serves all the major institutions and residences within
the town. However there are some few parts of the Council that have not yet
accessed piped water and are served by protected springs and deep wells constructed
by the town authority. Plans are under way to extend modern water supply system
to serve the whole Town council.
The Council works closely with other support institutions and Non-governmental
Organizations (NGOs) including Rural Water and Sanitation (RUWASA) Project,
the Small Town Water and Sanitation Project to ensure the provision of safe
water to its inhabitants.
Environmental Protection
The Council puts much emphasis on the proper management and protection of the
environment in ensuring a livable town for its inhabitants. Headed by the department
of Public Health, areas of concern include: work place safety and health, food
safety, infectious disease control, pest and malaria control and monitoring
water supplies proper wastes disposal,
New innovation of waste sorting at Kamevalley market under Public Private Partnership
for Urban Enviroment (PPPUE),Mukono Town Council,Cape of Good Hope and living
earth Uganda
Sensitisation Workshops of market vendors on garbage sorting under PPPUE Project.
Environmental Management Practices
Conservation of Cultural Environment
Promoted by the Central Government with the wild life section of the Ugandan
Ministry of Agriculture,Land and Natural Resources, the Environmental Protection
Programme has successfully decreased the slaughtering of Natural beauty in the
parts of Mukono.It has also introduced Eco-Tourism as a means to improve the
local Community by blending sustainable Tourism and preservation of nature with
economic growth.
Uncontrolled human influx was responsible for disturbing the nesting of the
Flora and Fauna and endangered species.The institution of a joint public-community
partnership reversed a trend that could have destroyed the nature and its enviroment.
The creation of patrols to monitor enviromental degradation during the nesting
season promoted conservation while increasing controlled tourism activities
generating opportunities for economic development for the area's residents.As
a result of the initiative,atraining program for tour guides was established
generating even more employment and securing sustainability through the involvement
of the private sector.
Apart from saving nature from slaughter,the programme has already had an impact
on other Communities in Mukono as well as national.
Programme achievements include:
- Creating a model for the protection of natural resources through a joint
government-community based effort.
- Apilot initiative has already been replicated in Mukono as awell as in other
parts of the country.
- Promoting heritage tourism and eco-tourism as a means to achieve sustainable
forms of economic development.
- Capacity building through training programmes for the tour guides and wildlife
conservationists resulting in increased economic development opportunities.
- Reversal of trends that was leading to the destruction of an endangered species
while making it possible to share and exchange lessons learned with others.
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