Uis: The Erongo Regional Council has confirmed that the settlement of Uis is in the final stages of being proclaimed a town council, marking a significant milestone in the development of the former mining hub located in the Daures Constituency. This was revealed by the Chairperson of the Erongo Regional Council, Florian Donatus, during a press briefing on Tuesday, ahead of the Uis Investors’ Conference scheduled for this coming Friday.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Donatus announced that a formal submission has already been made to the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development for Uis to be upgraded from its current settlement status to a fully-fledged town council. ‘Following our assessment of the sustainability of the settlement, we are fully convinced that Uis is ripe and can run its own affairs,’ he stated.
Uis was formerly a village council until it was downgraded to a settlement in 2010 as part of a national reclassification process that affected various local authorities unable to meet administrative or financial sustainability requirements. The area has since experienced notable growth, particularly with the revival of mining activities and the development of new infrastructure, prompting renewed calls for local self-governance.
According to the chairperson, the town proclamation will unlock greater autonomy in governance, increase access to development funds, and provide the legal framework to attract and regulate private investment. In light of this, he urged Namibian entrepreneurs and international investors to seize the opportunity presented by the Uis Investors’ Conference.
‘We are now set to make history in our quest to chart and correct an unequal developmental pathway in the Daures Constituency, and especially the Settlement of Uis,’ he said. The one-day event will showcase investment opportunities across a variety of sectors, such as retail, banking and financial services, which are currently lacking in Uis, with growing demand for closer access to banking facilities, as well as real estate and housing, to address the critical shortage of affordable accommodation in the settlement.
The proclamation of Uis as a town council, paired with the upcoming investor conference, is expected to open a new chapter of growth for the once-sleepy settlement, laying the foundation for inclusive economic development and improved service delivery, he added.