Nyakana is not a mayor â€" Otafiire
Oct 16, 2008
Local government minister Kahinda Otafiire has cautioned division chairpersons in Kampala district against referring to themselves as ‘mayor.’
By Josephine Maseruka
Local government minister Kahinda Otafiire has cautioned division chairpersons in Kampala district against referring to themselves as ‘mayor.’
In a October 14 letter to Godfrey Nyakana, the chairperson of Kampala central division, Otafiire said it was irregular for Nyakana to have called himself a ‘mayor’ in his independence congratulatory message to President Yoweri Museveni.
He said: “I would like to state that while the message was well-intentioned, referring to Kampala central division as a municipality and to yourself as a mayor is absurd.â€
The minister explained that Section 3 of the Local Governments Act, identified local governments and Section 3(3b) referred to local governments in the city as city division councils.
Therefore, he said, it was not only irregular but illegal to refer to Kampala central division as a municipality, adding that such a local government did not exist in law.
Otafiire further explained that the title of mayor was bestowed on chairpersons of the city and municipal councils as provided for in sections 15 and 23(3a) of the Local Governments Act.
“This means that it is only the chairperson of Kampala city and the 13 municipalities of Mbale, Lira, Tororo, Soroti, Moroto, Jinja, Gulu, Arua, Fort Portal, Kabale, Mbarara, Masaka and Entebbe that carry the title of mayor,†Otafiire said.
He warned Nyakaana against abusing the law, adding that as a leader, he swore to protect the constitution and other laws before assuming office.
He advised Nyakaana that if he wished to have the law amended, he had to follow the right procedure.
“You are sending wrong signals to the people you lead,†Otafiire added.
The letter also cautioned chairpersons of Kawempe, Makindye, Nakawa and Rubaga division.
It was copied to Kampala mayor Nasser Sebaggala, the Kampala resident district commissioner and to the town clerk.
Others who were cited for misusing the title included Mamerito Mugerwa, the chairperson of Kira town council and Joseph Mazuuku of Mpigi.
Local government minister Kahinda Otafiire has cautioned division chairpersons in Kampala district against referring to themselves as ‘mayor.’
In a October 14 letter to Godfrey Nyakana, the chairperson of Kampala central division, Otafiire said it was irregular for Nyakana to have called himself a ‘mayor’ in his independence congratulatory message to President Yoweri Museveni.
He said: “I would like to state that while the message was well-intentioned, referring to Kampala central division as a municipality and to yourself as a mayor is absurd.â€
The minister explained that Section 3 of the Local Governments Act, identified local governments and Section 3(3b) referred to local governments in the city as city division councils.
Therefore, he said, it was not only irregular but illegal to refer to Kampala central division as a municipality, adding that such a local government did not exist in law.
Otafiire further explained that the title of mayor was bestowed on chairpersons of the city and municipal councils as provided for in sections 15 and 23(3a) of the Local Governments Act.
“This means that it is only the chairperson of Kampala city and the 13 municipalities of Mbale, Lira, Tororo, Soroti, Moroto, Jinja, Gulu, Arua, Fort Portal, Kabale, Mbarara, Masaka and Entebbe that carry the title of mayor,†Otafiire said.
He warned Nyakaana against abusing the law, adding that as a leader, he swore to protect the constitution and other laws before assuming office.
He advised Nyakaana that if he wished to have the law amended, he had to follow the right procedure.
“You are sending wrong signals to the people you lead,†Otafiire added.
The letter also cautioned chairpersons of Kawempe, Makindye, Nakawa and Rubaga division.
It was copied to Kampala mayor Nasser Sebaggala, the Kampala resident district commissioner and to the town clerk.
Others who were cited for misusing the title included Mamerito Mugerwa, the chairperson of Kira town council and Joseph Mazuuku of Mpigi.