MPs probe KCCA bickering, staff recruitment

By Henry Mukasa and Mary Karugaba

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has directed MPs on the committee on Presidential Affairs to forego their Easter Holiday and probe into the bickering at Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).

Kadaga handed the committee two weeks to also investigate the plight of the defunct Kampala City Council staff who cried out to Parliament, accusing KCCA, the successor body, of sidelining them and irregularly replacing them.

The committee chaired by Bernabas Tinkasimire (NRM) will give recommendations on how city management should be streamlined after the Easter recess.

"Talk to all stakeholders and people with good ideas that can improve KCCA and report immediately after (Easter) recess. I am giving you two weeks. Don't even go for Easter," Kadaga directed.

The workers' petition was raised in Parliament by Ntungamo Municipality MP Yonah Musinguzi who said staff has been left in the cold are desperate and two suicides have been recorded as a result.

 Musinguzi said the workers' problem has been compounded by the organisation, salary and administration structure that was allegedly single handedly drawn by the Executive Director, Jennifer Musisi without consulting the city Authority as required by law.

"The workers of KCC have been left in the suspense. Let us recognize that they did some work. The Executive Director came with her staff, the so called consultants, if they have finished their consultancy they should leave," Musinguzi stated.

The MP said the old staff was supposed to be absorbed through a validation process but recruiting was going on in total disregard of them.

Former Vice President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya (NRM) blamed the chaos at City Hall on the fight between the Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago and ED Musisi "leaving us the grass to suffer." He proposed the setting up of an adhoc committee with specific tasks.

"We need to investigate as parliament whether we made a good law, how we can regularize the workings of the two and whether this organisation was put there for some people to get rich quickly," Bukenya stated.

However, Tinkasimire noted that his committee was already grappling with the inconsistencies within KCCA and had demanded for answers from the minister for the Presidency. "We have asked the minister, 'where are you putting the old staff?' Where is the transition team?" Tinkasimire said.

MP Steven Ochola told parliament that KCCA has two parallel structures but Public Service state minister, Seezi Mbaguta said one is administrative while the second is for politicians.