New Kampala RCC to combat youth unemployment, graft

By Darious Magara

The new Resident City Commissioner (RCC) for Kampala has said fighting corruption and youth unemployment, and following up on the performance of the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme will be top on her agenda.

Aisha Nalule Kabanda said these priorities, among others, are derived from the NRM manifesto.

She plans to find answers to the below par performance of the UPE programme in Kampala, and also attend to the critical issue of dropping out of school, whose rate in the district remains high.

“I ask you various actors whom I will work with in Kampala to be mindful and to prioritize attending to the needs of the people the wanahichi [citizens],” she said at a ceremony where her predecessor, Mpimbaza Hashaka, handed over duties to her on Monday.

The new RCC placed a stern warning on parents sabotaging the free education programme, saying she will fight them.

She was previously the presidential assistant in charge of media.

She said: “It is important to note that as we work for the people, we become mindful of their pace and as well communicate progress to various stakeholders.”

Some people had told her she needed prayers because Kampala is a difficult to manage, Kabanda said, but the RCC would tell them it is Kampala that needs more prayers instead.

Her predecessor Hashaka, now the RCC for Namayingo, called for increment of salaries for RDCs.

He argued that a monthly salary of sh1.5m was too little compared to other top government servants earning an average of sh40m per month.

At the handover ceremony, attended by deputy RCCs for the divisions of Kawempe, Nakawa, Rubaga and Central, Hashaka land conflicts, domestic and a high crime rate (especially murders) are top on the list of issues troubling Kampala.

He believes that the perpetrators resort to murder after failing to corrupt the system in their favour.

NRM mobilisers and security officials also showed up at the function.

Kabanda pledged she will link the central government with the local people to ensure that the NRM’s manifesto is implemented and development is achieved.