The Municipality of Uitenhage was created by virtue of a proclamation dated 5 June 1841, published in Government Gazette No 1851 dated 11 June 1841. The municipality was proclaimed under the provisions of Ordinance No 9 of 15 August 1836.

In 1994 Uitenhage became part of the Eastern Cape Province. In 2001 Uitenhage was incorporated with Port Elizabeth and Despatch into the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality. On 23 February 2021, Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa approved and gazetted the decision to rename Uitenhage to Kariega.