Councillors choose Lukwago replacement

By Brian Mayanja

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) councillors have set up an interim leadership to replace Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, if he is impeached.

New Vision has learnt that 10 out of the 30 councillors met last Saturday to discuss how KCCA business would be conducted in case Lukwago is censured.

A source said Apollo Mugume, (Nakawa Division) and Godfrey Asiimwe (Rubaga Division) were proposed as possible replacements. Bruhan Byaruhanga, the chief petitioner and Kyambogo University councillor, confirmed that the process of setting up the interim leadership kicked off last week.

Mugume is the chairperson of the KCCA revenue committee. He is a businessman with two shops in Kampala.

“If the councillors think I am up to the task, I will not let them down. I am ready to handle it,” Mugume said.

He, however, said the issue of political transition would be finalised next week, after councillors have presented their views to the tribunal.

Asiimwe is the LC1 chairman of Namungoona village. He is also a teacher of History and CRE at London College, Nansana. He was a deputy speaker of the council during Nasser Sebaggala’s leadership.

When contacted, Asiimwe said: “I am still thinking about it and will cross the bridge when I get there.”

Asiimwe, however, clarified that their plans were tentative, since the KCCA Act is silent on transition. “Should the President invoke the Local Government Act and take over management of Kampala city, then there will be no need for a mayor,” he said.

According to the KCCA Act, 2010, if the tribunal finds the evidence to impeach the Lord Mayor satisfactory, the authority will have to pass the resolution, supported by votes of not less than two-thirds of all members.

But even then, Lukwago still has an opportunity to appeal to the High Court within 21 days after impeachment.

According to a source, the councillors were guided by the lawyers to interprete the KCCA Act.

“The problem is, Lukwago’s deputy, Sulaiman Kidandala, is not legally recognised by the authority. So, in case Lukwago is out, we need strategy to guide us on the way forward,” the source said.

Wandera Ogalo, a constitutional lawyer, advised councillors to study the law carefully. “The KCCA Act, 2010 allows them to apply the Local Government Act, if it (the KCCA Act) is silent on a situation. Under the Local Government Act, Lukwago’s deputy, Kidandala, shall take over the leadership for six months, until the Electoral Commission organises a bye-election,” he explained.

Ogalo added that the law allows Kidandala to chair KCCA meetings in the absence of Lukwago.

“Forget about arguments that Kidandala is not legally recognised,” Ogalo said.

On May 17, a group of 17 councillors, led by Byaruhanga, petitioned Kampala minister Frank Tumwebaze, demanding the removal of Lukwago. Tumwebaze set up a tribunal, chaired by Justice Catherine Bamugemereire, to determine whether the petition meets the grounds provided for in the law to censure Lukwago.

So far, 10 councillors have testified before the tribunal, accusing Lukwago of deliberately blocking development projects of KCCA.