Mbarara City Council has allocated 100 Million Shillings towards hosting the first edition of a City Festival.
The City Festival has been scheduled to take place in January next year.
The money that was raised through local revenue had been allocated for utilization during the second quarter of the 2022/23 financial year budget and its vote was approved.
Mbarara and Gulu cities lost the bid to host the East African Community Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Trade show to Kampala.
Each of the bidding cities was required by the Ministry of Trade, Industries, and Cooperatives to commit at least Shillings 50 million, but Mbarara City had Committed 100 Million shillings which according to the City deputy Clerk is now lying idle and might return to the treasurer if not utilised.
Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi, the Mbarara City Mayor and Chairperson of the City Executive recommended to the council for debate that the executive resolved to use the money previously allocated for the East Africa trade show for the City Festival since it was lying idle.
During the Council sitting on Thursday chaired by the City speaker Bonny Tashobya Karushya, the City Councilors anonymously agreed to utilize the funds to host the festival next year
John Kavigi, the Chairperson Social Services Committee seconded the recommendation and asked the council to approve it despite Mayor Kakyebezi presenting it to them verbally.
Richard Mugisha, the Deputy City Clerk says that since they had arranged the money for the East Africa trade show and lost the bid, they agreed to swap the money with an alternative function thus Mbarara City festival.
He says they want to use the festival to showcase the beauty of the City as a regional city through several cultural activities of Ankore, a business symposium, and talent show among others.
Godfrey Baryomunsi, the councillor representing Kamukuzi B says the authorities should use the festival as an opportunity to market the beauty and treasures of Mbarara city noting that several businesses like the hotel and transport sectors will get a big boost.
James Mugume, a trader in the Koranorya food market has welcomed the initiative noting that this will be an exposure of Mbarara city to a wide market for traders and goods, especially the fresh foods of Ankore.
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