Ilemela surpasses revenue target, collections hit 16.6bn/-

MWANZA: ILEMELA Municipal Council has exceeded its domestic revenue target for the 2025/26 financial year after collecting more than 101 per cent of the projected amount, enabling it to continue implementing major development projects across various sectors.

Presenting the council’s implementation report during a councilors’ meeting on Thursday, Ilemela

Municipal Council Managing Director, Ms Ummy Wayayu, said the council had set a domestic revenue target of 16.46bn/- for the 2025/26 financial year but had collected 16.60bn/- by June 30, 2026, equivalent to 101 per cent of the target.

She said the council implemented development projects worth 47.39bn/- during the period, with more than 4.23bn/- financed through local revenue and 43.15bn/- provided by the central government.

“A large share of the funds was invested in infrastructure through the TACTIC programme, which received more than 38.2bn/-, while administration, health, primary and secondary education also benefited,” she said.

Ms Wayayu said the council maintained its strong academic performance in the 2025 national examinations, ranking first in Mwanza Region in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) and the Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (CSEE) and second in the Standard Four National Assessment (SFNA) and Form Two National Assessment (FTNA).

She said the Form Four pass rate rose from 99 per cent in 2024 to 99.4 per cent in 2025, with many students attaining high grades, strengthening the council’s position among the region’s top education performers.

To improve the learning environment, she said the council distributed 56,938 books to pre- primary, primary and secondary schools in January 2026 to enhance access to learning materials.

She added that in February 2026, the council, in collaboration with Sport Charity Mwanza, launched the 240m/- Igombe Sports Centre, featuring four sports grounds for students and the surrounding community.

Ms Wayayu also said the government continued improving energy services after Deputy Minister for Energy, Ms Salome Makamba, launched a subsidised solar power project on Bezi Island in Kayenze Ward and urged residents to safeguard the investment to support economic development.

On compensation, she said Mwanza Regional Commissioner, Mr Said Mtanda, visited Sangabuye, Bugogwa and Kayenze wards and directed that compensation payments be expedited. More than 1.27bn/- has already been paid out of claims exceeding 5bn/-.

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She further said 540 primary and secondary school teachers received certificates of appreciation for their contribution to improving education standards, while executive officers from 19 wards and 171 streets were recognised for strengthening revenue collection and operational information management.

Ms Wayayu said the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Regional Administration and Local Government (RALG) commended the council’s implementation of road, hospital and school projects, noting that they had improved service delivery.

She attributed the achievements to prudent resource management and accountability, which have enabled the council to receive clean audit certificates for four consecutive financial years, from 2021/22 to 2024/25.

Meanwhile, Shibula Ward Councillor, Mr Dede Swilla urged fellow councillors to continue supporting tax and revenue collection efforts in their respective wards.