All numbers presented here are based on estimates by the Municipal Government

General Information

Podujevë/Podujevo is a large municipality located to the north of Prishtinë/Priština. The population is almost completely Albanian, with some small communities of Roma, Ashkali and a few Serbs. In the municipality of Podujevë/Podujevo there is interaction between communities in many spheres of life. According to the Local Community Office the most important issues facing the communities are the high unemployment rate, the weak economic development and the lack of interest to attend primary and secondary education.

Important Contact Details

Municipal Website:  http://kk.rks-gov.net/podujeve/
Telephone: 038-571-611

Demographics

The total population of the municipality is estimated on 135.000 people, according to the Municipal Development Plan. After the 1999 conflict most of the Serb community moved away from the municipality. Today most community members live in the town of Podujevë/Podujevo. The few Serb community members living in the municipality live near the border with Serbia.
Accurate population statistics are not available for Kosovo. The numbers presented here are approximate estimates by the Local Community Office, cross checked with OSCE Municipal Profiles and Civil Society. For more information on Statistics in Kosovo click here

* The 1991 census results are considered unreliable due to a boycott by the Albanian population

Political Representation

Mr. Agim Veliu is the Mayor of Podujevë/Podujevo, representing the Albanian LDK, elected in two rounds with 66,2 percent of votes. LDK established a ruling coalition with AAK and PD. No community members have been elected to the Municipal Assembly. However, the communities are represented in the Communities Committee, the Municipal Communities Safety Council, the Municipal Council for Sustainable Return and by the Municipal Returns Officer. There is no Deputy Mayor for Communities since the participation of communities does not exceed four percent of the total population. In the Communities Committee are represented: the Albanian community with three representatives (from LDK, AAK and PDK), one representative from the Serb community, two representatives from the Ashkali community and one representative from the Roma community.

The Municipality has appointed a Municipal Officer for gender equality and a Municipal Officer on Children’s rights.

Safety and Freedom of Movement

The Kosovo Police and KFOR are responsible for guaranteeing security in Podujevë/Podujevo. In the last year no ethnically motivated incidents have been reported and community members generally feel safe to move around the municipality and are satisfied with the performance of the security institutions.

Education

The municipality of Podujevë/Podujevo offers primary and secondary education. No education is offered in languages other than Albanian, which both Ashkali and Roma communities speak. The main issue facing communities with regard to education is the poor socio-economic position of the Roma and Ashkali communities.

*Ashkali community members employed in the educational system are mostly technical assistance personnel.

Returns

No incidents have been reported with regard to returnees, the returns process however is being aversely affected by poor state of the economy, lack of education in native language, and other diverse conditions for sustainable return, like housing and unemployment.

Economy

Most community members are employed in the Municipal Administration, the public enterprise KEK and the private sector. The most important economic issues facing communities in Podujevë/Podujevo are the lack of education of community members and the poor state of the economy.

Access to Health Care and other Public Services (Police/Administration/Public Companies/etc.)

Health Care
Community members access the common public and private health clinics. There are 15 Family Medicine Centers and 7 ambulances. They experience no problems with communicating with and accessing health institutions, because all community members speak Albanian.
Other Public Institutions
All official documents are issued in the official languages of Kosovo. Communities experience no serious problems in communicating or accessing public institutions.

List of Community Organisations