Prime Minister intervenes in Centenary Park friction

Sep 29, 2012

Ugandan PM, Amama Mbabazi has called for an emergency meeting of city leaders to try and resolve the row over Centenary Park

By John Semakula & Brian Mayanja

Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi has called for an emergency meeting of city leaders next week to try and resolve the standoff that was caused by the demolition of Centenary Park.

Following the demolition of some of the structures at the park on Thursday, Mbabazi met a cross-section of city leaders at his office.

Resident city commissioner Mpimbaza Hashaka said Mbabazi watched the fracas during the demolition and called the meeting to forge a way forward.

“During the meeting, Mbabazi announced that he would meet all the city leaders next week to hear their complaints about the alleged misconduct of the city executive director, Jennifer Musisi,” Hashaka said.

He added that Mbabazi would use the meeting to understand Thursday’s standoff between trade minister Amelia Kyambadde and Musisi.

Other sources who attended the meeting, said there were accusations and counter accusations between groups backing Musisi and Kyambadde.

During the demolition, Kyambadde stormed the park and ordered KCCA law enforcement officers to stop.

“Please stop what you are doing now. This is illegal. Why don’t you let business owners first relocate? This is unacceptable,” Kyambadde said.

She added: “Musisi is a terrorist. Why is she spoiling President Yoweri Museveni’s popularity in Kampala? You KCCA people are nothing, but thugs.”

Kyambadde’s remarks are said to have affected Musisi and her team, forcing them to protest before Mbabazi.

But Mbabazi reportedly promised to react after thoroughly studying what happened during the demolition.

Hashaka said during the meeting, a chain of leaders vented their anger against Musisi.

The leaders who were bitter with Musisi included Sarah Kirabira, the deputy resident city commissioner of Kampala and Baker Serwamba, the city councillor for Makindye division.

The duo reportedly complained of Musisi’s alleged misconduct. They said harassing city dwellers and the business community would affect NRM popularity.

Serwamba told Saturday Vision that they told Mbabazi the problems in the city and the trouble-causers.

Serwamba said he expected the Premier to address the complaints in the near future to bring harmony in the city.

The meeting was attended by NRM division chairpersons, city councillors, KCCA technical team and resident district commissioners.

Kampala deputy mayor Sulaiman Kidandala said the mayor’s office was not informed about the meeting.

Meanwhile, KCCA councillors met on Friday, in a meeting called by Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, to come up with a stand against the on-going demolition of illegal structures.

Lukwago told Saturday Vision on Friday that he did not believe in violence-driven-development.

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