Uis has officially been elevated from a settlement to town status, becoming the eighth local authority in the Erongo Region. This was announced by Nathalia /Goagoses, the Governor of Erongo, during her State of the Region Address in Swakopmund recently, describing the development as a major milestone for the region.
“We successfully upgraded Uis from a settlement to village or town status, making it the eighth local authority in the region,” she said.
Uis is in the Dâures Constituency of the Erongo Region /Goagoses thanked the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development and the Erongo Regional Council for their role in achieving the upgrade. The new status is expected to strengthen local governance, improve service delivery, and attract investment to the former mining town, which has experienced renewed economic activity through tourism and lithium mining.
To support the transition, the Erongo Regional Council has committed N$1 million to developing an Infrastructure Master Plan for Uis. The plan will guide future investment in roads, water, sanitation and other essential services. Construction of an N$8.5 million bulk water pipeline is also underway to improve water security in the town.
Housing development is progressing through the Build Together Programme, with 10 houses under construction in Uis and expected to be completed before the end of the year. /Goagoses said the elevation of Uis is part of broader efforts to improve living conditions and create economic opportunities in the region.
The /Goagoses also revealed that attention will now shift towards Omatjete, where the government intends to pursue formal settlement status in the next financial year. Residents and business owners have long advocated for improved infrastructure and local governance structures, arguing that the town’s growth potential has been constrained by its former status as a settlement.
The upgrade is expected to position Uis as an emerging centre for investment, tourism and economic development in western Erongo.
By Sharlien Tjambari
