Kampala City Authority power struggle uncalled for
The controversies which have riven the leadership of the capital city can be attributed to failure by some of the leaders to adhere to the letter of the law governing the city. The leaders have also shown a reluctance to disengage from the previous status quo which equated the city to a local govern
The controversies which have riven the leadership of the capital city can be attributed to failure by some of the leaders to adhere to the letter of the law governing the city. The leaders have also shown a reluctance to disengage from the previous status quo which equated the city to a local government.
Under the Local Government Act which governed Kampala City Council, the city was a local government composed of the city and five division councils which operated as the political arm of the administration.
Executive authority was vested in the district and division executive committees consisting of the chairpersons and at least six secretaries. The public service was headed by a town clerk whose functions were similar to those of a district chief administrative officer.
This arrangement has been changed by the Kampala Capital City Act, 2011. Instead of having a city council we now have a City Authority consisting of the lord mayor, the deputy lord mayor and elect representatives. This is now the political arm of the city administration. The Act has now concentrated the executive functions of the previous executive committee and chief administrative officer in the executive director who is accountable to Parliament in the management of all public funds of the authority.
The law clearly specifies the functions to be performed by the city authorities and the executive director.
Political functions fall into four broad categories namely legislative, oversight, planning and budgetary.
The authority has power to make ordinances consistent with the Constitution or any other law and is mandated to exercise oversight functions through monitoring the delivery of services in its area of jurisdiction. In its planning function the authority is required to prepare a comprehensive and integrated Capital City Development Plan for submission to the National Planning Authority and the Metropolitan Authority. The authority also approves and passes its budget.
The above functions are quite different from those of the executive director whose duties are more managerial and administrative.
The executive director is the head of the public service in the Authority and its administration including divisions and wards. The other functions fall within various categories including being the accounting officer of the authority, manager of the public funds, chief implementer of national and authority policies, overseer of service delivery in the city, presenter of the budget adviser, to the Lord Mayor and the authority on government policies, among others.
In performing these duties it is difficult to see how the present executive director can be accused of usurping the functions of other people within the structure of the capital city.
A lot has been said about the relationship of the Lord Mayor and the executive director. If the law is followed to the letter there need not be any conflict of interest between the two top officers in the city administration.
In the first place the law does not assign any executive power to the Lord Mayor, but this does not mean the office of Lord Mayor is thus rendered redundant.
Apart from his ceremonial duties the Lord Mayor is the head of the Authority in developing strategies and programmes for the development of the capital city. In addition the law requires him to monitor the administration of the city and to provide guidance to the division administration.
The writer is an advocate
Under the Local Government Act which governed Kampala City Council, the city was a local government composed of the city and five division councils which operated as the political arm of the administration.
Executive authority was vested in the district and division executive committees consisting of the chairpersons and at least six secretaries. The public service was headed by a town clerk whose functions were similar to those of a district chief administrative officer.
This arrangement has been changed by the Kampala Capital City Act, 2011. Instead of having a city council we now have a City Authority consisting of the lord mayor, the deputy lord mayor and elect representatives. This is now the political arm of the city administration. The Act has now concentrated the executive functions of the previous executive committee and chief administrative officer in the executive director who is accountable to Parliament in the management of all public funds of the authority.
The law clearly specifies the functions to be performed by the city authorities and the executive director.
Political functions fall into four broad categories namely legislative, oversight, planning and budgetary.
The authority has power to make ordinances consistent with the Constitution or any other law and is mandated to exercise oversight functions through monitoring the delivery of services in its area of jurisdiction. In its planning function the authority is required to prepare a comprehensive and integrated Capital City Development Plan for submission to the National Planning Authority and the Metropolitan Authority. The authority also approves and passes its budget.
The above functions are quite different from those of the executive director whose duties are more managerial and administrative.
The executive director is the head of the public service in the Authority and its administration including divisions and wards. The other functions fall within various categories including being the accounting officer of the authority, manager of the public funds, chief implementer of national and authority policies, overseer of service delivery in the city, presenter of the budget adviser, to the Lord Mayor and the authority on government policies, among others.
In performing these duties it is difficult to see how the present executive director can be accused of usurping the functions of other people within the structure of the capital city.
A lot has been said about the relationship of the Lord Mayor and the executive director. If the law is followed to the letter there need not be any conflict of interest between the two top officers in the city administration.
In the first place the law does not assign any executive power to the Lord Mayor, but this does not mean the office of Lord Mayor is thus rendered redundant.
Apart from his ceremonial duties the Lord Mayor is the head of the Authority in developing strategies and programmes for the development of the capital city. In addition the law requires him to monitor the administration of the city and to provide guidance to the division administration.
The writer is an advocate