The government has announced plans to begin relocating some ministries, departments and agencies from Kampala to Nakasongola as part of a long-term plan to establish a new administrative capital for Uganda.

State Minister for Urban Development Margaret Muhanga told Parliament’s Lands and Housing Committee that President Yoweri Museveni supports the proposal to shift government operations away from Kampala.

Muhanga said the relocation will not happen overnight but will be implemented gradually, with some government offices expected to move first before the wider transition is completed.

According to the minister, the process could continue for several years and may stretch up to 2040 under the country’s long-term development plans.

She explained that the decision was influenced by increasing congestion, poor urban planning and the growing challenges of living and working in Kampala.

“Who is happy living in this city? I am not. We lose $1.6 billion annually due to this traffic jam. People have to wake up at 4 am to make it to work at 8 am. That is insane,” Muhanga said.

The minister described Kampala as a city facing serious challenges that require a major intervention rather than temporary solutions.

“Kampala is unlivable, it is unchangeable, it is untenable, and we must move out of it,” she said.

Muhanga said the government considered several possible locations for the new capital but ruled out existing regional cities such as Mbarara, Fort Portal and Gulu.

She explained that some of those cities already face planning challenges similar to Kampala, making them less suitable for establishing a new capital.

Nakasongola, she said, provides an opportunity for the government to develop a well-planned administrative city from the beginning.

The minister said the area has advantages because of its central location, available land and relatively low population density.

“Nakasongola is more centrally located, underpopulated and we have a lot of land there, and that is where we had decided to shift. The president was so much for this capital shift,” Muhanga said.

She added that the relocation would follow a phased approach, with different ministries, departments and agencies gradually moving over time.

The proposal is also included in the government’s Vision 2040 development framework, which outlines plans for long-term transformation.

Muhanga acknowledged that some Kampala property owners have expressed concerns that moving government offices could affect demand for commercial buildings.

She, however, assured them that Kampala would remain an important city even after government offices are relocated.

“Right now everyone is scared of what will happen to Kampala, that their buildings will not be rented. But Kampala will be here, nobody will lose anything,” she said.

The minister said the relocation should not be viewed as abandoning Kampala but rather as an opportunity to create another well-organised administrative centre.

The proposal received support from the chairperson of the Lands and Housing Committee, Edson Rugumayo, who asked the government to provide more details on the implementation plan.

Rugumayo said discussions about moving the capital have existed for many years and called for clear steps showing how the idea will become reality.

“We want to know what the government is doing now about this relocation so that we can support you because this talk of moving from Kampala has been around for some time,” he said.

He suggested that the process could begin with key government institutions, including Parliament and the Executive.

The proposed relocation has renewed national debate about urban planning, congestion management and the future development of Uganda’s major cities.

If implemented, the move would represent one of the biggest administrative changes in Uganda’s history, shifting the centre of government operations from Kampala to a newly planned location in Nakasongola.