Leaders warn creating Lumino district would undermine unity

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A section of local leaders from Busia are protesting the ongoing push by a group of fellow leaders, whom they accuse of acting out of selfish interests, to split the district into two.

While addressing the media on March 28, 2025, at Centenary Park in Kampala, Ajuma Nabwera, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) mobiliser for Busia district, claimed that a number of self-interested local leaders, allegedly funded by politicians, are driving the agenda to carve Lumino district out of Busia.

“We reject the proposed plans of carving Lumino district out of Busia district. Busia measures 743 square kilometres from border to border, and this doesn’t warrant the creation of a new administrative unit.

The proposed plan by selfish leaders is aimed at enriching themselves and dividing the Basamia-Bagwe, which will lead to a loss of identity among them,” Nabwera said.

The proposal to create Lumino district gained traction on November 30, 2024, after Busia district council approved a motion supporting the idea. Proponents argued that a new district would bring services closer to the people.

However, Nabwera warned that dividing Busia along tribal lines—placing the Basamia in Lumino and the Bagwe in Busia—would marginalise other smaller tribes such as the Bakene, Hehe, Bateso, and Japadhola.

“The President and religious leaders often speak of unity, yet some individuals are trying to divide us into smaller units for their own interests. These people clearly lack an understanding of the President’s vision and ideological direction,” Nabwera said, adding that Article 19 of the Constitution should be amended to include input from the wider population at village level when proposing new districts.

“We appeal to the President to investigate the origins of this Lumino proposal, including those promoting tribal undertones in Busia and exploiting the Samia-Bagwe divide, so that their true motives can be exposed,” he added.

Wilberforce Wafula, a resident of Busia, noted that the Basamia and Bagwe have long lived and worked together peacefully. He questioned how long it would take for a newly created district to develop, should the tribes be split.

“Creating a new district will likely trigger demands from other tribes seeking their own districts. This could spark conflict between the Basamia and Bagwe, similar to what happened in Tororo,” Wafula said.

He stressed that unity is more important and that what people need are services delivered closer to them, not new administrative boundaries.

Wafula further alleged that some proponents of the Lumino district are seeking to create more political positions, not jobs. “Creating a district doesn’t equate to creating jobs; it’s about expanding political posts,” he said.

Case for the district

Steven Mugeni, chairperson of Busia district, defended the proposal to create Lumino district, citing the district’s population growth.

“The population of Busia district has increased tenfold, and the number of districts can grow accordingly. The marginal cost of a new district is manageable. I advocate for the creation of Lumino district,” Mugeni said.

Swizin Mugyema, commissioner for local council development in the Ministry of Local Government, called for patience among local leaders. He urged those pushing for Lumino district to stop raising public anxiety and wait until Cabinet lifts the current ban on creating new districts.

“As of now, no one should say that a new district is going to be created today or tomorrow—not until Cabinet lifts the ban,” Mugyema stated.