Government clarifies on KCCA meetings

By Taddeo Bwambale

The minister of state for justice and constitutional affairs, Fred Ruhindi has advised that special meetings of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) do not require a 14-day notice.

The minister’s legal opinion is contained in his letter to the KCCA executive director, Jennifer Musisi dated July 20, 2012.

Ruhindi, who is also the deputy Attorney General states: “Paragraph 1(2) reads together with other provisions on meetings in the Fourth Schedule, seems to indicate that in the case of special meetings called by the Lord Mayor, the 14-day notice is not required.”

“The 14-day notice period does not necessarily apply to special council meetings of the Authority,” the letter partly reads.

Last week, Musisi for the third time blocked the Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwagofrom holding a special Authority meeting.

She cited a legal opinion of the Solicitor General that Authority meetings require a 14-day notice.

The city executive director also vowed not to attend all council meetings and provide facilitation to members of the Authority if the meetings do not comply with the requirement.

But Ruhindi argued that special council meetings cannot be subjected to the same provision, since they are meant to address issues of emergency.

“To require notice for special meetings as with all other meetings of the Authority is to negate the rationale for special meetings, which is to deal with matters that have suddenly arisen and urgently need to be addressed,” Ruhindi stated.

He, however, advised that the Lord Mayor should give notice to all meetings to members of KCCA so that they can acquaint themselves with the matters to be discussed.

“For purposes of efficiently conducting the business of the Authority, such notice is required although the period of notice must obviously be shorter than the prescribed 14 days,” he stated in the letter.

Ruhindi disclosed that the Fourth Schedule on meetings in the KCCA Act, 2010 was in the process of being amended to remove any ambiguity as to notice periods for meetings.