Woes of a Kampala mayor

Nov 23, 2013

Being the Lord Mayor of Kampala is not a bed of roses, for it comes with several challenges as John Semakula reports.

Saturday VISION

Being the Lord Mayor of Kampala comes with several challenges. For Erias Lukwago, the biggest challenge has been endless power wrangles with the city executive director, Jennifer Musisi. Lukwago’s seat now hangs in balance. As JOHN SEMAKULA writes, Lukwago, his predecessors and mayors elsewhere, have had similar problems.

Lukwago’s problems

From the time Erias Lukwago assumed office in 2011, he got entangled in power wrangles with city executive director, Jennifer Musisi. Lukwago accused Musisi of usurping his powers. But Musisi insisted she was working within the limits of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Act.

The bickering between the two persisted, until councillors petitioned the minister in charge of Kampala, Frank Tumwebaze, to intervene. The councillors accused Lukwago of failing to call meetings and fighting the KCCA tax project.

A probe committee, headed by Justice Catherine Bamugemereire, last week found Lukwago guilty of abuse of office and incompetence. Lukwago’s chances of keeping the office now hang in balance.

trueNasser Ntege Sebaggala (1998-2010)

Sebaggala’s problems were unique. After winning the first direct elections, Sebaggala who had created the impression as the mayor of the ‘illiterate’ class, was looked at as a lucky man.

On several occasions, he failed to express himself in English, but he was still elected to the office, defeating well-educated candidates like Peter Ssematimba.

After securing the surprising victory, Sebaggala went to the US on official duty. While there, he was arrested and charged on eight counts of fraud before being sentenced to 15 months in jail.

In Feburay 1999, Sebaggala was released and returned to Kampala to a hero’s welcome. In 2005, Sebaggala again contested for the mayorship and won. He recently confessed that he retained his seat because he agreed to work with President Yoweri Museveni.

Sebaggala’s problems stemmed from his decision to lease the city markets to individuals, instead of the market vendors. It is this project that reduced Sebaggala’s popularity in the city and made Lukwago popular among the market vendors.

Lukwago (then Kampala Central MP) had been advocating for the markets to be left to the vendors.

Sebaggala also had issues with the mayor’s official residence, which he wanted to own at the end of his term. He was however, unsuccessful in his bid.

Because Sebaggala was academically lacking, he relied on powerful allies in the council, some of whom made decisions for their own benefit at the expense of the voters.

trueSsebaana Kizito (1998-2005)

At one point, Ssebaana scampered for his life after a mob at one of the city markets charged towards him. The mob accused him of spearheading the sale of markets.

There has been a long standing argument that Ssebaana sold more properties in the city than Sebaggala.

And in a recent interview with Saturday Vision, Ssebaana confessed his council sold the properties but that the transactions were legal and done in the spirit of developing the city.

Like Sebaggala, Ssebaana’s problems stemmed from the markets. He also wanted individuals to lease the markets instead of vendors. The decision affected his popularity. But he survived because he worked with NRM councillors despite the fact that they were the minority on his council.

Their good working relationship helped Ssebaana avert the problems, which Lukwago is facing today. A source said Ssebaana appointed NRM councillors to different committees.

Ssebaana, like his predecessor Christopher Yiga and successor Sebaggala had financial challenges.

Although during his tenure there was some improvement in garbage collection the budgetary allocations to the defunct KCC were still meagre at sh40b, which he claims hindered his ability to improve the image of the city. Today, the KCCA budget is about sh200b.

trueChristopher Yiga (1989-1997)

Yiga’s problems were not self-inflicted, like those of his colleagues. Yiga seems to have been a victim of circumstances. During the later part of his term, there was a cholera outbreak in Kampala.

Analysts say that due to inadequate funding from the Central Government, Iga found it hard to collect garbage and maintain the general hygiene of the city.

The city was choking on garbage and sewage. Roads were riddled with potholes, which complicated transport.

Newspapers ran a campaign against the potholes, making Yiga less popular. When he sought re-election in 1998, he was easily defeated by Sebaggala.

trueSimilar cases outside Kampala

Mayors elsewhere have suffered similar problems. They have also been entangled in leadership wrangles and financial scandals, which nearly threatened their office.

In Masaka, for instance, since the municipality mayor Godfrey Kayemba Afayo (left), took office in 2011, he has not been able to appoint a deputy.

Kayemba, the only Forum for Democratic Change councillor, failed to strike a deal with councillors from the other political parties. He had formerly accepted to work with NRM councillors but changed his mind about appointing Lt. Joseph Mugerwa as his deputy.

Sources say Kayemba, formerly a bodaboda cyclist, can be impeached anytime he makes a mistake.

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That said, here is your food for thought: Will Lukwago survive the concillors' onslaught?


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