Kadaga directs Tumwebaze to explain KCCA operations against the poor

By Moses Mulondo & Henry Ssekanjako

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, has directed the minister for Presidency Frank Tumwebaze to prepare an explanation on the various KCCA operations in the city which have left thousands of the urban poor jobless.

Kadaga’s directive followed a petition by the Makindye East MP John Ssimbwa who appealed to parliament to intervene and stop KCCA from carrying out operations which involve destroying people’s workstations/kiosks and confiscating their merchandize.

“The KCCA operations are against economic rights and the rights of people to development. People’s properties and merchandize are destroyed and people are left poorer than they were. Many youth and women who had borrowed money to start their businesses have had their businesses destroyed,” Ssimbwa explained.

Residents look on in disbelief as KCCA razes bars in Kabalagala during an operation to rid the surbub of illegal structures. PHOTO/Moses Nsubuga

He narrated one of the terrifying operations he had seen in his constituency in Kabalagala which left him utterly shocked that a government agency can insensitive to the plight of vulnerable people.

“I appeal to government especially the minister for president to ensure that the people of Kampala are involved in the development of the city. We are not developing Kampala for animals,” he argued.

Kadaga said the minister (Tumwebaze), who was not present in the House, would have to explain in detail the plans KCCA has for the development of the urban poor and give justification for the operations which have left thousands of Kampala residents jobless and in losses.

Ssimbwa, who is an NRM MP, last year wept in parliament as he narrated the humiliating manner in which KCCA had demolished houses of people operating along the railway line in the wee hours of the night.

“The incident was very humiliating and shocking. Those people in KCCA act mercilessly like people who have no human hearts,” Ssimbwa said before he broke down.

Several forceful KCCA operations have left people’s houses and kiosks demolished and vendors evicted from the city center.

In the course of these operations, some people have died, others have been injured and people’s merchandize confiscated.

Responding to the development, KCCA youth councilor (NRM) Aiday Nakuya said, “The damage done to our people is terrible and it cannot be undone. You cannot kill a disease using a pain killer. The real solution lies in the return of the Lord Mayor in his office. KCCA technical people have wrecked all that havoc to our people because there is no political oversight.”

Makerere University KCCA councilor Bernard Luyiga (DP) said, “Of course that is what we have been waiting for.

Parliament had over kept quiet when we are having a crisis in the city. Parliament’s intervention is long overdue. All those insensitive operations have happened because the political leadership is inactive. Last year parliament directed that by the end of this moth KCCA political problems should have been solved and we are waiting.”