MPs, Outdoor Advertisers Association to meet over pinning campaign posters in Kampala

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Members of Parliament (MPs) on the House Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) at a yet to be designated date next week are set to interface with stakeholders in the signage industry.

This follows a directive Medard Lubega Ssegona (Busiro East, NUP) issued on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, during an interaction with Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) officials who were led by Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and KCCA executive director Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki.

“You recall that we made some, some strides last time. Where we discussed and ended on the issue of outdoor advertisers. I don't think we can do sufficient justice without inviting the national outdoor advertising contractor’s association limited. So, clerk make arrangements to invite them so we can also interface with them. It would be unfair to discuss them and their business without hearing them,” Ssegona ruled.

“Make arrangements to meet them next week,” he added.

KCCA Guidelines

It should be noted that in July this year, KCCA issued guidelines regarding election-related advertising. According to a communique online, the move poised at observance of order was in consonance with Chapter 6 of the National Physical Planning standards and guidelines.

Accordingly, all election advertising materials must be displayed or erected only after obtaining permission from KCCA.

While election campaign posters placed on buildings should generally be positioned on the front elevation, at or just above ground floor level, and maintain a consistent size, height, and design.

On the other hand, any person intending to make use of sound/audio announcements to campaign for candidates or political parties shall make an application for an outdoor advertising permit.

However, while appearing before the committee last week, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago stated that the City Executive Committee (CEC) does not have the mandate to regulate the pinning of posters.

“Unless we implement the outdoor advertisement ordinance which has been halted. So, we have no legal tool to guide us on regulating posters. Our position is that posters are not buildings which require building permits. Because even the approval of permits goes through a process. The act creates two bodies; the physical planning committee under the physical planning Act and the building committee under the Building Control Act,” Lukwago explained.

Even then, Ssegona put it to him that he has witnessed KCCA officials bringing down posters.

To which the latter said was illegal and the borne of contention they were dealing with internally.

“And we are saying that is totally unacceptable. And we agreed to bring that to a halt until we get the position,” Lukwago reiterated.

KCCA write to political leaders

However, when Benon Kigenyi Moses, the deputy director KCCA came in, he opined otherwise.

“In writing to the secretary generals of political parties, we had noticed a growing concern of an increase of posters of various materials placed in various places. Some of them in dangerous places. We thought that in arresting that situation, we would have an engagement with secretary generals so that they could communicate to political parties about the need to have an organised manner in which these advertising and campaign materials would be utilised,” Kigenyi argued.