Staff Reporter
The Chairperson of the Erongo Regional Council, Florian Donatus, has called for increased investment in Uis to restore its status as a town and to ensure it can sustainably support its residents.
“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.
He made these remarks at the recent Uis Investors Conference, held in Swakopmund, which aimed to attract investment to Uis. Once recognised as a town, Uis was downgraded to a settlement in 2010 due to dwindling tin output, under-serviced infrastructure, and stalled governance. Now home to over 5,000 residents, Donatus believes Uis is regaining momentum and offers more than just mining opportunities. He emphasised that the settlement deserves to regain its town status, although further investment is still required.
“It is no longer speculative. We have met the key requirements. By the time Namibia holds its next local and regional elections, Uis should once again be recognised as a town,” he added.
According to the Ministry of Information’s Erongo Regional Office, Uis is experiencing a revival through coordinated investment, improved services, and the restoration of essential infrastructure—including water supply, healthcare, and administrative functions. This progress was echoed by Mupenzeni Ntelamo, Chief Regional Officer of the Erongo Regional Council, who reaffirmed the region’s commitment to developing Uis.
“We’ve addressed the reasons that led to the downgrade. We’re building a self-sustaining local economy,” Ntelamo said.
