Will Government takeover solve Kampala city woes?
Jul 04, 2007
The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Vincent Ssekono, recently announced that the Government plans to take over the administration of Kampala city in September.
By Moses Mulondo
The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Vincent Ssekono, recently announced that the Government plans to take over the administration of Kampala city in September.
Appearing before the Parliamentary select committee probing the alleged illegal sale of plots in Kampala by KCC, Ssekono said the city had become uncontrollable because the law governing KCC is too soft and gives the city authority a lot of powers.
He said the Government plans to bring a draft bill before Parliament seeking approval for it to take over management of the city.
Section 4 of Article 5 of the 2005 Constitutional Amendment Act gave Kampala a special city status and also mandated the Government to administer the city.
The other reason advanced for the Government take over is to ensure proper management and good service delivery in the capital city.
However, a survey by The New Vision revealed a mixed reaction with some arguing that KCC problems are a result of underfunding rather than poor administration.
At a press conference at the City Hall recently, Kampala mayor Nasser Sebaggala reacted angrily and threatened to drag Ssekono to court for his inconsistency.
Sebaggala said Ssekono had earlier told them the takeover would be in 2011.
He also threatened to sue the Government if they dare to takeover the executive powers of his leadership, arguing that the act would mean abrogation of the Constitution that gives people powers to decide on who should rule them and how.
Former Kampala mayor and Democratic Party president John Ssebaana Kizito said it is for selfish motives that the Government wants to takeover the administration of the city.
“There is no sound reason they can advance for the takeover. If it is about mismanagement and corruption, the most shocking mismanagement and corruption scandals in the country are in Government circles,†Ssebaana said.
“Since 1996, the Movement Government has overwhelmingly failed to democratically takeover the city. That is why they resorted to use the predominantly Movement Parliament to justify their forceful takeover of Kampala.â€
Ssebaana argued that the Government has always deliberately under-funded KCC to fail the efforts of its leaders and justify their takeover plan.
When asked for comment councillor Caesar Tokoma said: “I do not even want to hear about something that has no sound justification. Did the Government consult the people of Kampala before putting their plans in the constitutional amendment?
Only MPs from Kampala should have voted on how the people of Kampala should be governed. But Parliament erroneously passed the bill basing on votes of MPs from all over the country who do not represent the people of Kampala,†lamented Tokoma.
However, Apolo Mugume KCC chairman of the finance committee supports the Government to take over the administration of Kampala. “Of course, I have to support it because I am a member of the Movement who cannot go against the stand of my party.
“If the Government takes over, we shall see proper garbage management, sewage control, more roads will be repaired and better service delivery. â€
Makerere University councillor Bernard Luyiga warned that the remaining city council property and land would be sold off if the Government took over the administration of the city.
“Basing on how this regime has sold off all parastatals and the way it gives away land and forests, we cannot trust that when they takeover Kampala, they will leave any public land unsold.
“More so, the poor service delivery in the city is caused by under funding. What needs to be done is to increase the Government budget for KCC not to take over administration.â€
Former deputy mayor Dr. Hasib Takuba says all they asked for was a special status for Kampala not for the Government to take over administration.
The Lubaga Division chairperson, Winnie Makumbi thinks the solution for poor service delivery is in making each division a municipality and increasing funding, but not government takeover.
KCC clerk Ruth Kijjambu revealed that the central government gave KCC sh27b for the previous financial year. And KCC raised 28b from revenue collections, making a total budget of sh52b. Kijjambu argues that although they have not yet carried out a study to find out what would be the appropriate KCC budget, 52b is too little to ensure good service delivery.
Kawempe division chairman Nasser Takuba calls the move outrageous and disempowering the citizens of Kampala. “Taking over of Kampala will take away the constitutional rights of the residents of Kampala to decide who should be rule them.â€
“Leaders appointed by the Government cannot serve the people well because they will only be accountable to those who appointed them. There is no convincing reason why the Government should take over the administration of Kampala,†Takuba reasoned.
“Let the Government hold a referendum so that the residents of Kampala decide on the matter if they are really committed to democratic rule,†said Amos Mukiibi, a Makerere University student and a resident of Kanyanya.
The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Vincent Ssekono, recently announced that the Government plans to take over the administration of Kampala city in September.
Appearing before the Parliamentary select committee probing the alleged illegal sale of plots in Kampala by KCC, Ssekono said the city had become uncontrollable because the law governing KCC is too soft and gives the city authority a lot of powers.
He said the Government plans to bring a draft bill before Parliament seeking approval for it to take over management of the city.
Section 4 of Article 5 of the 2005 Constitutional Amendment Act gave Kampala a special city status and also mandated the Government to administer the city.
The other reason advanced for the Government take over is to ensure proper management and good service delivery in the capital city.
However, a survey by The New Vision revealed a mixed reaction with some arguing that KCC problems are a result of underfunding rather than poor administration.
At a press conference at the City Hall recently, Kampala mayor Nasser Sebaggala reacted angrily and threatened to drag Ssekono to court for his inconsistency.
Sebaggala said Ssekono had earlier told them the takeover would be in 2011.
He also threatened to sue the Government if they dare to takeover the executive powers of his leadership, arguing that the act would mean abrogation of the Constitution that gives people powers to decide on who should rule them and how.
Former Kampala mayor and Democratic Party president John Ssebaana Kizito said it is for selfish motives that the Government wants to takeover the administration of the city.
“There is no sound reason they can advance for the takeover. If it is about mismanagement and corruption, the most shocking mismanagement and corruption scandals in the country are in Government circles,†Ssebaana said.
“Since 1996, the Movement Government has overwhelmingly failed to democratically takeover the city. That is why they resorted to use the predominantly Movement Parliament to justify their forceful takeover of Kampala.â€
Ssebaana argued that the Government has always deliberately under-funded KCC to fail the efforts of its leaders and justify their takeover plan.
When asked for comment councillor Caesar Tokoma said: “I do not even want to hear about something that has no sound justification. Did the Government consult the people of Kampala before putting their plans in the constitutional amendment?
Only MPs from Kampala should have voted on how the people of Kampala should be governed. But Parliament erroneously passed the bill basing on votes of MPs from all over the country who do not represent the people of Kampala,†lamented Tokoma.
However, Apolo Mugume KCC chairman of the finance committee supports the Government to take over the administration of Kampala. “Of course, I have to support it because I am a member of the Movement who cannot go against the stand of my party.
“If the Government takes over, we shall see proper garbage management, sewage control, more roads will be repaired and better service delivery. â€
Makerere University councillor Bernard Luyiga warned that the remaining city council property and land would be sold off if the Government took over the administration of the city.
“Basing on how this regime has sold off all parastatals and the way it gives away land and forests, we cannot trust that when they takeover Kampala, they will leave any public land unsold.
“More so, the poor service delivery in the city is caused by under funding. What needs to be done is to increase the Government budget for KCC not to take over administration.â€
Former deputy mayor Dr. Hasib Takuba says all they asked for was a special status for Kampala not for the Government to take over administration.
The Lubaga Division chairperson, Winnie Makumbi thinks the solution for poor service delivery is in making each division a municipality and increasing funding, but not government takeover.
KCC clerk Ruth Kijjambu revealed that the central government gave KCC sh27b for the previous financial year. And KCC raised 28b from revenue collections, making a total budget of sh52b. Kijjambu argues that although they have not yet carried out a study to find out what would be the appropriate KCC budget, 52b is too little to ensure good service delivery.
Kawempe division chairman Nasser Takuba calls the move outrageous and disempowering the citizens of Kampala. “Taking over of Kampala will take away the constitutional rights of the residents of Kampala to decide who should be rule them.â€
“Leaders appointed by the Government cannot serve the people well because they will only be accountable to those who appointed them. There is no convincing reason why the Government should take over the administration of Kampala,†Takuba reasoned.
“Let the Government hold a referendum so that the residents of Kampala decide on the matter if they are really committed to democratic rule,†said Amos Mukiibi, a Makerere University student and a resident of Kanyanya.