local news 28 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Njeru Residents Express Frustration Over Stalled Development Despite Industrial Growth
Ten years after achieving municipal status, residents of Njeru are lamenting the slow pace of development and lack of essential infrastructure, contrasting their situation with other municipalities established at the same time. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/njeru-residents-decry-slow-development-despite-industrial-boom-5477402
Njeru Municipality, elevated to its current status in 2016, is facing a stark reality where its industrial boom has not translated into commensurate public development. Residents express deep disappointment, noting that vital infrastructure like major roads remain in disrepair and basic services are lacking. This situation is particularly galling when compared to other municipalities formed concurrently, many of which have seen significant upgrades including paved roads, street lighting, and improved health facilities.
Despite hosting over 300 factories within its industrial park and surrounding areas, Njeru’s urban landscape does not reflect its status as a major manufacturing hub for Uganda. Industries producing textiles, steel, beverages, paper, and more are prominent, yet the town’s challenges persist. Residents point to a history of leaders, particularly former Members of Parliament, who they believe failed to adequately lobby for crucial services. Issues such as inadequate waste management, with the removal of community dustbins, and environmental concerns, including industrial waste polluting the River Nile, are also cited as pressing problems.
Newly elected and returning leaders acknowledge the widespread discontent. The municipality’s administration currently operates from offices deemed unsuitable for its municipal status. The mayor, Yasin Kyazze, is advocating for a new Shs 2 billion administration block and emphasizes the importance of aligning with the ruling NRM party to attract government development projects.
Looking ahead, Njeru is set to benefit from the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) program. Planned initiatives include installing street lighting along key routes, tarmacking major roads, and constructing a modern market. These projects are intended to boost infrastructure, enhance safety, and stimulate economic activity for residents.
At the division level, efforts are also underway. The Njeru Division LCIII Chairperson, Michael Odeba, plans to focus on economic empowerment through initiatives like a community hatchery for poultry farming and vocational training programs for the youth. Local leaders are being urged to collaborate across political divides to ensure effective service delivery and to promote government programs aimed at increasing household incomes.
The overarching sentiment from Njeru’s populace is that industrial output alone is insufficient; tangible improvements in infrastructure and public services are long overdue.