Lukwago, Musisi clash over UTODA
Jul 06, 2011
BARELY two months in office, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and Kampala executive director Jennifer Musisi have clashed over matters relating to UTODA.
By Mary Karugaba, Taddeo Bwambale, Brian Mayanja and Juliet Waiswa
BARELY two months in office, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and Kampala executive director Jennifer Musisi have clashed over matters relating to UTODA.
Musisi on Monday stopped a scheduled meeting between Lukwago and the officials of the transport body, saying the agenda of the meeting was not clear.
In a tersely worded letter dated July 4, Musisi also stopped Lukwago from demanding documents concerning UTODA’s financial status, saying they are best handled by the contracts committee and therefore, the management of KCCA.
“They do not relate to policy whether or not UTODA is performing; they relate to contract management, an administrative function, which is best handled by only parties that are privy to the contract,†Musisi said, adding: “A consultative meeting with different stakeholders is therefore ill advised.â€
This is the first public clash between the director and the Lord Mayor.
Musisi stated in her letter that issues of whether or not UTODA had a running contract should be established and agreed upon within KCCA before Lukwago can meet UTODA officials.
“In that regard, KCCA management will not attend the said meeting on Tuesday (yesterday) until the above issues are resolved,†Musisi said.
Lukwago last week summoned UTODA officials to a meeting yesterday and demanded that they submit copies of audited books of accounts, memorandum and articles of association, returns filed and the structure of taxi fares.
According to Lukwago, UTODA collects close to sh4b monthly, but only remits sh390m to KCCA. A recent audit report also indicates that the drivers’ body has accumulated arrears of sh274m in debts to KCCA.
UTODA officials were earlier expected to meet Lukwago last week, but they requested that the meeting be rescheduled to this week.
Following the clash between Musisi and Lukwago, the UTODA officials yesterday did not turn up for the meeting.
Lukwago argues that he is seeking to streamline the public transport sector.
After waiting for several hours yesterday, Lukwago and his team of councilors resolved that KCCA suspends all dealings with the drivers’ body until the matter is resolved.
Lukwago, speaking to the press from the Mayor’s Parlour, also asked drivers to halt payment of operational dues to UTODA until the matter is resolved during a special meeting to be convened soon.
BARELY two months in office, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and Kampala executive director Jennifer Musisi have clashed over matters relating to UTODA.
Musisi on Monday stopped a scheduled meeting between Lukwago and the officials of the transport body, saying the agenda of the meeting was not clear.
In a tersely worded letter dated July 4, Musisi also stopped Lukwago from demanding documents concerning UTODA’s financial status, saying they are best handled by the contracts committee and therefore, the management of KCCA.
“They do not relate to policy whether or not UTODA is performing; they relate to contract management, an administrative function, which is best handled by only parties that are privy to the contract,†Musisi said, adding: “A consultative meeting with different stakeholders is therefore ill advised.â€
This is the first public clash between the director and the Lord Mayor.
Musisi stated in her letter that issues of whether or not UTODA had a running contract should be established and agreed upon within KCCA before Lukwago can meet UTODA officials.
“In that regard, KCCA management will not attend the said meeting on Tuesday (yesterday) until the above issues are resolved,†Musisi said.
Lukwago last week summoned UTODA officials to a meeting yesterday and demanded that they submit copies of audited books of accounts, memorandum and articles of association, returns filed and the structure of taxi fares.
According to Lukwago, UTODA collects close to sh4b monthly, but only remits sh390m to KCCA. A recent audit report also indicates that the drivers’ body has accumulated arrears of sh274m in debts to KCCA.
UTODA officials were earlier expected to meet Lukwago last week, but they requested that the meeting be rescheduled to this week.
Following the clash between Musisi and Lukwago, the UTODA officials yesterday did not turn up for the meeting.
Lukwago argues that he is seeking to streamline the public transport sector.
After waiting for several hours yesterday, Lukwago and his team of councilors resolved that KCCA suspends all dealings with the drivers’ body until the matter is resolved.
Lukwago, speaking to the press from the Mayor’s Parlour, also asked drivers to halt payment of operational dues to UTODA until the matter is resolved during a special meeting to be convened soon.