Government halts KCC operations
Sep 25, 2007
THE Government has suspended all development activities of the Kampala City Council (KCC), pending the new law prescribing its status and leadership. President Yoweri Museveni gave the directive last week.
By Cyprian Musoke
THE Government has suspended all development activities of the Kampala City Council (KCC), pending the new law prescribing its status and leadership.
Addressing a press conference at the media centre yesterday, local government minister Kahinda Otafiire, flanked by Mayor Nasser Sebaggala, said President Yoweri Museveni gave the directive during a meeting at State House last week.
Otafiire said the activities suspended included big transactions such as awarding or cancelling contracts for the management of public markets and car parks, hiring and firing staff, promotions and demotions, new procurements and disposal of assets, and entering any new commitments.
The President, however, told KCC to continue overseeing and collecting dues from the existing tenders and contracts, cleaning the city and offering other services, according to Otafiire.
“There are quite a number of things which, if they are worked on now, would encumber the work of the next administration. Since we don’t know what the next administration will be, everything should be put on hold,†Otafiire said.
He explained that the Cabinet had already made its proposals for the new bill but that Parliament still needed to do the same.
Otafiire blasted media reports which claimed he had “fought†Sebaggala when they were briefing the President.
“The mayor is here. We left (State House) in my car. How could I have beaten a hungry man before he even breaks his fast?†he asked.
He denied allegations that he and the mayor were giving away markets. The current policy on markets was made by KCC under former DP President Ssebaana Kizito, he explained.
On Kisekka Market, he noted that the chaos which erupted recently was due to competition among rivalling groups.
He read out a letter of April 12, in which he asked KCC to allow the Kisekka Market Vendors Association to develop the market, in partnership with a developer of their own choice.
The letter said only vendors with lock-ups and stalls registered with KCC should participate, not hawkers and petty criminals who were selling stolen car parts.
“Does this letter allocate the market to anybody except the vendors?†he asked. “This Otafiire might not look very pleasant but he is not that dangerously stupid.â€
The minister also denied reports that Nateete market had been sold, saying it was being constructed with World Bank funds.
The titles, which had gone missing, had been cancelled and new ones obtained, he explained.
Sebaggala blasted the RDCs who announced that KCC would be abolished. Museveni had assured them of the contrary, he said.
“I don’t know where these so called RDCs get their information from. These kids should be asked to stop this,†the mayor added, prompting laughter.
THE Government has suspended all development activities of the Kampala City Council (KCC), pending the new law prescribing its status and leadership.
Addressing a press conference at the media centre yesterday, local government minister Kahinda Otafiire, flanked by Mayor Nasser Sebaggala, said President Yoweri Museveni gave the directive during a meeting at State House last week.
Otafiire said the activities suspended included big transactions such as awarding or cancelling contracts for the management of public markets and car parks, hiring and firing staff, promotions and demotions, new procurements and disposal of assets, and entering any new commitments.
The President, however, told KCC to continue overseeing and collecting dues from the existing tenders and contracts, cleaning the city and offering other services, according to Otafiire.
“There are quite a number of things which, if they are worked on now, would encumber the work of the next administration. Since we don’t know what the next administration will be, everything should be put on hold,†Otafiire said.
He explained that the Cabinet had already made its proposals for the new bill but that Parliament still needed to do the same.
Otafiire blasted media reports which claimed he had “fought†Sebaggala when they were briefing the President.
“The mayor is here. We left (State House) in my car. How could I have beaten a hungry man before he even breaks his fast?†he asked.
He denied allegations that he and the mayor were giving away markets. The current policy on markets was made by KCC under former DP President Ssebaana Kizito, he explained.
On Kisekka Market, he noted that the chaos which erupted recently was due to competition among rivalling groups.
He read out a letter of April 12, in which he asked KCC to allow the Kisekka Market Vendors Association to develop the market, in partnership with a developer of their own choice.
The letter said only vendors with lock-ups and stalls registered with KCC should participate, not hawkers and petty criminals who were selling stolen car parts.
“Does this letter allocate the market to anybody except the vendors?†he asked. “This Otafiire might not look very pleasant but he is not that dangerously stupid.â€
The minister also denied reports that Nateete market had been sold, saying it was being constructed with World Bank funds.
The titles, which had gone missing, had been cancelled and new ones obtained, he explained.
Sebaggala blasted the RDCs who announced that KCC would be abolished. Museveni had assured them of the contrary, he said.
“I don’t know where these so called RDCs get their information from. These kids should be asked to stop this,†the mayor added, prompting laughter.