Lord Mayor Lukwago seeks re-election, launches five-year Kampala city agenda

KAMPALA - Erias Lukwago says he is seeking re-election for the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Lord Mayor's seat.

The politician, who has been at the helm of the city for three terms and now subscribes to the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) party, says he aims to complete the unfinished city hall business.

Signalling old wine in new bottles, Lukwago, who was first elected on the Democratic Party (DP) ticket in 2011 and independent in 2016 before jumping on the stationary Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) train in 2021, insisted that he still has a lot to offer to the Kampala city dwellers.

Launching his mayoral bid at PFF’s Plot 6, Katonga Road offices in Nakasero, Kampala on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, Lukwago, outlined fast tracking of the implementation of the KCCA physical plan with focus on climate resilience, equitable wetland restoration and slum upgrading, harmonising informal economic activity with public order, protection of public assets, among others.

“When elected, I shall aggressively engage the Ministry of Works that took over Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) and cause commencement of Kampala flyover project civil works for lot 2 along Mukwano road,” Lukwago said.

We shall also expedite the full operationalisation of the Kampala Traffic Control Centre, which will unify all signalised intersections under a centralised real-time monitoring system, alleviating traffic congestion and optimising travel efficiency, he added.

“We shall compel the government to pursue a phased development of the state-of-the-art sanitary landfill at Buyala and make it a modern landfill for the entire Kampala Metropolitan area as directed by parliament,” Lukwago promised.

Education

Lukwago says he will prioritise pursuing a gigantic agenda of revamping and revitalising KCCA public schools to their former glory of academic excellence and chart out a new direction to attain greater heights in line with the lofty Kampala education master plan.

On selective enforcement of the law by the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), Lukwago proposed to compel NEMA to revisit its approach.

“My leadership will continue challenging the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) to rein in the city tycoons who are degrading our environment before unleashing their oppressive boot on the soft targets,” he observed.

Banishment of taxi operators, boda boda riders, and street vendors

Lukwago, who decried trade disorder in the city, vowed to finalise the process of enactment into law the bill for the public transport ordinance and the KCCA (regulation of street trade) ordinance, which the city executive committee has already initiated to streamline the leadership and operations of taxi operators, boda boda riders, and street vendors.    

“We shall crack the whip against all errant law enforcement personnel and disband the illegal Rapid Response Unit (RRU) outfit,” he suggested.

Supporters who were holding the posters of Lukwago at the launch of the Kampala agenda, listening to Lukwago at PFF headquarters, on Katonga Road. (Credit: Isaac Nuwagaba)

Harmonisation of tax regimes

Synergising with the business community against oppressive tax and exorbitant rental tariffs, Lukwago promised to push for the scrapping of property tax.

“I promised to push for the revision of the local government (rating) Act Cap 140 by Parliament to totally scrap property rate tax in Kampala, as it amounts to double taxation since the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) collects the same tax under the income tax act as rental tax.”

Ringfencing markets for the poor

Lukwago pledges that, in his five-year term starting in 2026, he will construct modern markets across the city, starting with Ggaba, USAFI, and Kamwokya, as well as expediting the completion of Kitintale Market.

“We shall push for the amendment of the Markets Act 2023 with a view to expunging obnoxious provisions that disenfranchise vendors from market leadership roles. This shall be done after the finalisation of the KCCA markets ordinance that is intended to streamline management of markets in the city,” he insisted.

Health

On health, Lukwago promised to push for upgrading of all the 8 KCCA health facilities to city community hospital status, which would expand service packages, serve as referral buffers, and reduce congestion at regional and national hospitals.

“We shall pitch for the necessary funding required to construct and equip more health facilities to be able to cope with the current demographic pressures,” he suggested.

Land grabbing

Lukwago promised to fight what he calls the abhorrent illegal practice of converting land held in trust into private property.

“We made a laudable recommendation to the KCCA to put a moratorium on all processes of converting land held in trust by Kampala land board to private property and, where possible, commence legal action to ensure that the already existing titles are cancelled,” he noted.

However, the government only gave out shillings 3.04 trillion out of shillings 10.3 trillion to fund the KCCA strategic plan 2020/2021 to 2024/2025, lamented Lukwago.