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The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, has urged the Uis community to unite and work together to develop the settlement. Unity, he adds, is important for the growth of the settlement and, notably, for advocating the return of Uis to local authority status.
Uis is located at the foot of Brandberg Mountain and is home to the White Lady rock painting, believed to be over 20 thousand years old. This rock art site attracts travellers to Uis, providing residents with an opportunity to earn a living through tourism in Damaraland.
Previously, Uis relied heavily on the tin mine that dominated the area. However, the closure of the tin mine led to a significant decline in population. Those who remained are now struggling to survive, with tourism becoming an important source of income for them.
In 2010, the settlement's downgrade to "settlement" status put it at risk of becoming a ghost town if mining operations could not continue. According to Uutoni, for Uis to regain its local authority status, the community must be committed and have a shared purpose. He emphasises that unity is crucial for development and that infighting only hinders progress. He encourages the community to use the available space to think clearly and work towards their own development and that of the community. Uutoni cites other developing areas where unity, rather than government funding, has been the driving force.
Currently, the town is home to a few guest houses, a petrol station, two schools, a shop, and a handful of other small shops.