Opposition councillors reject Kamya's invitation to Kyankwanzi

Opposition city councillors have disassociated themselves from the planned Kyankwanzi political training that has been organized by the Minister for Kampala, Beti Kamya.

The councillors from various parties on Wednesday said they are not part of Kamya's programme saying that it was not in any of their resolutions in the council meetings adding that they will not attend the political meeting.

The Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago during a council disassociated himself from the training saying that Kamya is in the habit of using the institution's name to meet her own needs which he said is not right.

He asked councillors to vote on the matter and only six councillors were in support of the training while 21 opposed to the training saying that Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Jennifer Musisi should not facility the councillors since the matter was not supported.

In her letter dated 31 October, 2017, to Musisi, Kamya requested her to avail the councillors with an out of pocket allowance to enable them attend the political training.

The letter copied to the State Minister for Kampala, Benny Namugwanya, division mayors and councillor Bruhan Byaruhanga read; "As discussed with you verbally, this is to confirm that KCCA and urban councillors whose names appear on the attached list have been admitted to a leadership Training Program in the National Leadership Training Institute Kyankwanzi from 12-19 November, 2017".

Out of the 345 councillors in the city, 198 confirmed their attendance to the training according to the list seen by New Vision.

"The course is sponsored by the Institute but as is the usual practice at KCCA, councillors will require an out of pocket allowance. The purpose of this letter is to request you to arrange it" part of Kamya's letter reads. 

The mayor of Nakawa Ronald Balimwezo in an interview with the New Vision said ,"My councillors from the ruling party and independents have confirmed that they are attending the training, but I will not attend."

He added that he has other commitments, as he will be travelling to Turkey to attend another training which coincides with this training.

He advised that as opposition leaders, they will be misunderstood since the training comes at the time when the age limit debate is raging.

"We the opposition councillors have resolved that we are not going to be part of the team that is travelling to Kyankwanzi," Kawempe councillor Muhammad Ssegirinya said.

Nakawa councillor Kennedy Okello said "We are aware of some councillors from the ruling party who are going to attend, but for us we are not attending."

Fatumah Nsereko from central division said they are adults who will make their personal decision on whether to attend the training or abstain.

Byaruhanga however explained that the councillors will set off on Monday adding that this is a programme that they requested during Frank Tumwebaze's tenure as Minister for Kampala.

He revealed that the programme has several activities planned including political education, person empowerment, public health, and HIV/AIDS among other programmes.