Kampala city gets executive director
Mar 14, 2011
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has appointed an executive director who will run Kampala’s day-to-day operations, rendering the position of Lord Mayor ceremonial.
By MILTON OLUPOT
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has appointed an executive director who will run Kampala’s day-to-day operations, rendering the position of Lord Mayor ceremonial.
While urging city dwellers to come out in large numbers to vote for the Mayor of Kampala on Sunday, Museveni said he had already appointed the executive director who will be the lead government officer in the management of the city.
“Under the Constitution, there is a new post of executive director which is more powerful than the position of town clerk. It is important that the executive director gets a mayor who will not try to obstruct. That is why you should vote so that you get the capacity to clean your city,†he said.
Museveni expressed disappointment over the way the city has been managed.
“Whenever I pass through Kampala, I feel ashamed when I look at the garbage and the potholes. This is the time to get a team that will clean your city,†he added.
Museveni, however, did not name the appointee.
Kampala City is no longer a district. Under the Kampala Capital City Bill (2009) passed in November last year, the city is now regarded simply as located in Buganda, but with a special status under the direct control of the Central Government.
The Bill shifts power from the Lord Mayor’s office to an executive director who will be appointed by the President.
This means that Kampala’s next mayor will be a ceremonial figurehead and the person actually wielding the power will be the executive director.
This change is intended to streamline the status of Kampala as the capital city of Uganda and spell out its administration to ease provision of effective administration of the city, and to address the appalling conditions of its infrastructure.
Under this law already assented to by the President, a new post of Lord Mayor replaced the title Mayor, which was relinquished to city division heads. The divisions themselves were elevated to municipality status.
The same law replaced the position of city town clerk with a new post of executive director who will be appointed by the President in consultation with the Public Service Commission. The position of town clerk was reserved for city divisions.
The law also provides that the President may appoint a cabinet minister, a state minister or both to oversee Kampala.
The City divisions, now municipalities, will become autonomous administrative units and shall have more powers with their directly-elected mayors and councils, separate town clerks, RDCs and deputy RDCs as is the case in other districts.
Most of the responsibilities like public works including roads and bridges, drainage, road lights are now in the hands of former City divisions now municipalities.
Other than the political and administrative capital, there shall be the Kampala Capital City Authority which shall be in charge of planning for greater Kampala including surrounding areas like Wakiso district which harbours Entebbe Municipality and Kira and Nansana Town Councils, Kyengera Town Board and Makindye Ssaabagabo sub-county.
It will also include Mukono district where Mukono Municipality is located, and Mpigi district. This will be for urban planning and development.
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has appointed an executive director who will run Kampala’s day-to-day operations, rendering the position of Lord Mayor ceremonial.
While urging city dwellers to come out in large numbers to vote for the Mayor of Kampala on Sunday, Museveni said he had already appointed the executive director who will be the lead government officer in the management of the city.
“Under the Constitution, there is a new post of executive director which is more powerful than the position of town clerk. It is important that the executive director gets a mayor who will not try to obstruct. That is why you should vote so that you get the capacity to clean your city,†he said.
Museveni expressed disappointment over the way the city has been managed.
“Whenever I pass through Kampala, I feel ashamed when I look at the garbage and the potholes. This is the time to get a team that will clean your city,†he added.
Museveni, however, did not name the appointee.
Kampala City is no longer a district. Under the Kampala Capital City Bill (2009) passed in November last year, the city is now regarded simply as located in Buganda, but with a special status under the direct control of the Central Government.
The Bill shifts power from the Lord Mayor’s office to an executive director who will be appointed by the President.
This means that Kampala’s next mayor will be a ceremonial figurehead and the person actually wielding the power will be the executive director.
This change is intended to streamline the status of Kampala as the capital city of Uganda and spell out its administration to ease provision of effective administration of the city, and to address the appalling conditions of its infrastructure.
Under this law already assented to by the President, a new post of Lord Mayor replaced the title Mayor, which was relinquished to city division heads. The divisions themselves were elevated to municipality status.
The same law replaced the position of city town clerk with a new post of executive director who will be appointed by the President in consultation with the Public Service Commission. The position of town clerk was reserved for city divisions.
The law also provides that the President may appoint a cabinet minister, a state minister or both to oversee Kampala.
The City divisions, now municipalities, will become autonomous administrative units and shall have more powers with their directly-elected mayors and councils, separate town clerks, RDCs and deputy RDCs as is the case in other districts.
Most of the responsibilities like public works including roads and bridges, drainage, road lights are now in the hands of former City divisions now municipalities.
Other than the political and administrative capital, there shall be the Kampala Capital City Authority which shall be in charge of planning for greater Kampala including surrounding areas like Wakiso district which harbours Entebbe Municipality and Kira and Nansana Town Councils, Kyengera Town Board and Makindye Ssaabagabo sub-county.
It will also include Mukono district where Mukono Municipality is located, and Mpigi district. This will be for urban planning and development.