Lukwago has no powers to suspend committees

Dec 02, 2011

OVER 20 of the 33 Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) councilors have rejected the Lord Mayor’s move to halt all meetings arguing that he has no powers to suspend them.

By Brian Mayanja

OVER 20 of the 33 Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) councilors have rejected the Lord Mayor’s move to halt all committee meetings arguing that he has no powers to suspend them.

Councilors have also attacked Erias Lukwago for not consulting them over the matter.

“Instead of working as a team to solve city problems, Lukwago is ever engaged in endless political battles. Lukwago should know that he is answerable to us and the minister in charge of Kampala,” Apollo Mugume Nakawa division councilor charged.

Mugume who is also the chairperson Internal Audit and Revenue committee said there is no section of KCCA Act that gives the Lord Mayor powers to suspend standing committees.

“Among the eight functions Lukwago is supposed to perform. Which section of the Act empowers him to suspend Authority committees? His actions tantamount to abuse of office,” he added.

The Kampala Capital City Act, 2010 provides for the establishment of ten standing committees to oversee the work of the directorates and to periodically review their performance reports.

 The Councilors threatened to impeach Lukwago if he does not convene authority meetings.

“He has failed to perform his duties. He is supposed to meet us every three months but instead, he is busy fighting political wars. On top of that Lukwago is ever on foreign trips. When shall we meet and discuss reports from different committees?” Bruhan Byaruhanga Kyambogo University councilor asked.

Council meetings which are supposed to be held at least once every three months will also not take place until next year, the last one having taken place in October.

On Wednesday Lukwago announced that he had suspended all meetings of standing committees of the citing alleged take-over of their work by the city executive director, Jennifer Musisi.

He also accused Musisi of ‘hijacking’ their roles and frustrating their work.
However, a small number of councilors back Lukwago.

 

 

 

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