What is KCC good for?

Feb 12, 2009

BARELY days after Kampala City Council (KCC) threatened to censure property developers in the city who had built structures in total disregard of the building code, we now hear KCC has allowed a developer to build over a sewerage line that serves the city

BARELY days after Kampala City Council (KCC) threatened to censure property developers in the city who had built structures in total disregard of the building code, we now hear KCC has allowed a developer to build over a sewerage line that serves the city.

The development in question is off Jinja Road, behind the Kyadondo Rugby Ground, where Luish Investments is building warehouses on the section.

National Water & Sewerage Corporation have protested the development, arguing that the concrete sewerage pipe under the plot may come under strain from the weight of the development and burst, with dire consequences for the surrounding residents and the user clients up the line.
KCC is aware of all these concerns and went on to approve the development.

Things are really falling apart in Kampala under the “watchful” eyes of KCC. Congestion in the city is being caused largely by sub-standard structures. Uncollected garbage and unplanned housing can all be blamed on KCC.

This will be the understatement of the year, but there is something badly wrong in City Hall and only in Uganda can such incompetent leadership be allowed to serve out their term.

Sadly, plans for the central government to take over the running of Kampala may be a case of jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire, but KCC’s running of this city is such that they will get little sympathy if these plans were fast-forwarded.

The KCC administration will argue that they are cash-strapped and find it next to impossible to carry out their mandate, but money follows good management. KCC’s inability to show even a semblance of good management is what is keeping it cash-strapped.

Hard as it is to believe, KCC is not beyond redemption. City Hall needs to focus on what they are there to do, which is to improve the welfare of the residents of Kampala.

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