New Kampala can take part of Wakiso
WHEN the proposal for the central government to take over Kampala came up, Wakiso MP Rosemary Seninde said she would oppose the inclusion of part of her constituency into the greater Kampala. Now she says the plan is a great idea.<b> Hamis Kaheru</b> and<b> Rehema Aanyu </b>interviewed her on her ch
WHEN the proposal for the central government to take over Kampala came up, Wakiso MP Rosemary Seninde said she would oppose the inclusion of part of her constituency into the greater Kampala. Now she says the plan is a great idea. Hamis Kaheru and Rehema Aanyu interviewed her on her change of position.
When the proposal for the central government to take over Kampala came up, Wakiso MP Rosemary Seninde said she would oppose the inclusion of part of her constituency into the greater Kampala. Now she says the plan is a great idea. Hamis Kaheru and Rehema Aanyu interviewed her on her change of position.
QUESTION: You are no longer opposed to the proposed take-over of Kampala by the central government?
ANSWER: I appreciate the fact that the central government wants to develop Kampala and the areas around it, including Kiira Town Council, Makindye-Sabagabo and Entebbe which are in Wakiso.
When this plan was being talked about for the first time, my people and I were strongly against it. When we see the problems in Kampala which result in poor administration, we tend to think that those problems will overflow to those other areas. Now I am glad because I have had the chance to look at the draft Bill and I have consulted with a few of the leaders in Wakiso district and the areas that are going to be affected and they are positive. After seeing what the Bill intends to do, I realised it has good intentions.
What were your fears?
My people’s fear is the bureaucracies associated with Kampala. But it is not a matter of saying no to the Bill. It is important to know how these areas will develop. For instance when you look at Makindye-Sabagabo, we have always been complaining about Busabala Road and Ndejje Road but once they come under Kampala, definitely they will be developed. Even the amount of money the Government will be sending to those areas will be increased.
Can you be more clear on why you were opposed to the plan at first?
The proposed Bill was not probably understood, and don’t forget that these issues are sometimes politicised. People involve politics in almost everything and the message that goes down to the people is often misinterpreted and people are misinformed. Because of this, they are forced to say no before even understanding the whole issue at hand.
As a Member of Parliament, I have been quoted in the past saying that I may not support the Bill if my people do not support it because I am their voice. I find it very difficult to say yes when my people say no, although it is my responsibility as a leader to enlighten them and educate them and tell them what they are going to benefit out of it, after getting proper information.
At that time the proposed Bill had not been understood very well and the problems in Kampala caused the negative attitude. Now we see the positive side of the Bill and I know the fears will be allayed. I have done consultations with my people especially the leaders in the affected areas like Entebbe and the feedback is positive.
What are they saying?
They believe their areas are going to develop even further than they have been developing outside the administration of the central government. I think the issue here is not being under Kampala but what are these areas going to benefit. These areas will get their roads worked on. They will get more money from the central government that will help them develop and run other programmes like sanitation, health, etc.
I think people were also concerned about centralising leadership in Kampala and they were not sure about their positions in those areas like the mayorship of Kiira Town Council and the LC3 chairmanship of Makindye-Sabagabo. But I think centralising leadership is all about the Mayor of Kampala and not the other lower authorities.
The problems in Kampala you feared would spread to Wakiso included uncollected garbage?
When you look at places like Kawempe, one may think it is not doing well because of the way it looks and one may then wonder what will happen to areas that are doing so well in Wakiso when they come under Kampala. But I have realised that it is not about leadership. We have visionary leaders in Wakiso in the places going to be affected and they will develop more when they get more money from central government. So we should move a step away from where you belong but on what you are actually going to achieve from the Bill. I intend to hold rallies soon and make meaningful consultations with my people and educate them about the Bill and its objectives.
Have consulted your colleagues; other MPs from Wakiso?
No. I have not had an opportunity to make consultations with them yet because at the moment we are on recess. We were planning to meet in the near future and I think we will look at the positive side of the Bill. I opposed the Bill but this was before I had even known its contents. But being a leader, one has to be flexible. I looked at the positives and how my people would benefit and this is what I took to them and they support it.
Probably you were worried about not toeing your party line and facing disciplinary action?
No. As much as I am a staunch NRM supporter, there is nowhere I was told that when you support your people you will be disciplined. I know I have to express my people’s views and be their voice. I am not simply shifting goal posts because of that but because I have understood what is good in the Bill for my people.
When the proposal for the central government to take over Kampala came up, Wakiso MP Rosemary Seninde said she would oppose the inclusion of part of her constituency into the greater Kampala. Now she says the plan is a great idea. Hamis Kaheru and Rehema Aanyu interviewed her on her change of position.
QUESTION: You are no longer opposed to the proposed take-over of Kampala by the central government?
ANSWER: I appreciate the fact that the central government wants to develop Kampala and the areas around it, including Kiira Town Council, Makindye-Sabagabo and Entebbe which are in Wakiso.
When this plan was being talked about for the first time, my people and I were strongly against it. When we see the problems in Kampala which result in poor administration, we tend to think that those problems will overflow to those other areas. Now I am glad because I have had the chance to look at the draft Bill and I have consulted with a few of the leaders in Wakiso district and the areas that are going to be affected and they are positive. After seeing what the Bill intends to do, I realised it has good intentions.
What were your fears?
My people’s fear is the bureaucracies associated with Kampala. But it is not a matter of saying no to the Bill. It is important to know how these areas will develop. For instance when you look at Makindye-Sabagabo, we have always been complaining about Busabala Road and Ndejje Road but once they come under Kampala, definitely they will be developed. Even the amount of money the Government will be sending to those areas will be increased.
Can you be more clear on why you were opposed to the plan at first?
The proposed Bill was not probably understood, and don’t forget that these issues are sometimes politicised. People involve politics in almost everything and the message that goes down to the people is often misinterpreted and people are misinformed. Because of this, they are forced to say no before even understanding the whole issue at hand.
As a Member of Parliament, I have been quoted in the past saying that I may not support the Bill if my people do not support it because I am their voice. I find it very difficult to say yes when my people say no, although it is my responsibility as a leader to enlighten them and educate them and tell them what they are going to benefit out of it, after getting proper information.
At that time the proposed Bill had not been understood very well and the problems in Kampala caused the negative attitude. Now we see the positive side of the Bill and I know the fears will be allayed. I have done consultations with my people especially the leaders in the affected areas like Entebbe and the feedback is positive.
What are they saying?
They believe their areas are going to develop even further than they have been developing outside the administration of the central government. I think the issue here is not being under Kampala but what are these areas going to benefit. These areas will get their roads worked on. They will get more money from the central government that will help them develop and run other programmes like sanitation, health, etc.
I think people were also concerned about centralising leadership in Kampala and they were not sure about their positions in those areas like the mayorship of Kiira Town Council and the LC3 chairmanship of Makindye-Sabagabo. But I think centralising leadership is all about the Mayor of Kampala and not the other lower authorities.
The problems in Kampala you feared would spread to Wakiso included uncollected garbage?
When you look at places like Kawempe, one may think it is not doing well because of the way it looks and one may then wonder what will happen to areas that are doing so well in Wakiso when they come under Kampala. But I have realised that it is not about leadership. We have visionary leaders in Wakiso in the places going to be affected and they will develop more when they get more money from central government. So we should move a step away from where you belong but on what you are actually going to achieve from the Bill. I intend to hold rallies soon and make meaningful consultations with my people and educate them about the Bill and its objectives.
Have consulted your colleagues; other MPs from Wakiso?
No. I have not had an opportunity to make consultations with them yet because at the moment we are on recess. We were planning to meet in the near future and I think we will look at the positive side of the Bill. I opposed the Bill but this was before I had even known its contents. But being a leader, one has to be flexible. I looked at the positives and how my people would benefit and this is what I took to them and they support it.
Probably you were worried about not toeing your party line and facing disciplinary action?
No. As much as I am a staunch NRM supporter, there is nowhere I was told that when you support your people you will be disciplined. I know I have to express my people’s views and be their voice. I am not simply shifting goal posts because of that but because I have understood what is good in the Bill for my people.