Uis to regain town status by year-end

Erongo Regional Council officials have confirmed that Uis is 90% through the formal process of regaining local authority status and expect final approval by the end of 2025, offering what they called a clear assurance to investors ahead of Friday’s Uis Investment Conference.“This is no longer speculative,” said council chairperson Florian Donatus during a pre-conference press briefing in Swakopmund on Tuesday. “We have met the key requirements. By the time Namibia holds its next local and regional elections, Uis should once again be a recognised town.”DowngradedThe push comes 15 years after Uis was downgraded from a village council to a settlement in 2010. At the time, the Ministry of Regional and Local Government cited Uis’ inability to sustain itself financially following the closure of the tin mine. Without sufficient revenue, infrastructure or services, the area no longer met the requirements to operate as a local authority. The reclassification took effect ahead of that year’s local and regional elections.“This time, we are making sure the foundation is solid,” said Chief Regional Officer Mpenzani Ntalamo. “We’ve addressed the reasons that led to the downgrade. Water systems have been upgraded, administrative structures strengthened, and most importantly—we’re building a self-sustaining local economy.”Donatus said Uis must prove not only formal compliance, but economic viability. “For Uis to function as a town council again, it must be economically independent. That means there must be real economic activity—money in people’s pockets—so that residents can pay rates and taxes and sustain municipal services.”He said a provisional approval from the urban ministry has already been granted, with the final verification process expected to conclude this year.Renewed job creationThe Uis Investment Conference takes place on Friday, 4 July 2025, from 08:00 to 17:00 at the Swakopmund Hotel and Entertainment Centre. A fundraising gala dinner will follow in the evening to support the town’s institutional start-up costs.The investment drive targets sectors such as mining, banking, real estate, retail, tourism and ICT. “We need banks, we need housing, we need retail outlets. Uis is growing again, especially with mining activities resuming. These are not theoretical opportunities—they are real,” Donatus said.The revival of the Uis Tin Mine is a key catalyst, bringing renewed job creation and demand for services. Donatus said this is an opportunity for SMEs to engage in mining logistics, waste management, property construction, and tourism services.Ntalamo added that Uis’ location on Namibia’s developing western corridor gives it a strategic edge. “You cannot travel this route—from Walvis Bay to the north—without passing through Uis. It is re-emerging as a gateway town.”Conference attendance is free, but registration is required. The gala dinner is a ticketed event and will raise capital for the establishment of the town council.

Uis to regain town status by year-end

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-03

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Uis to regain town status by year-end

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-03

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