KCCA Act amendment is targeting me - Lukwago

By Vision Reporter

Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, has described the government’s move to amend KCCA Act as a ploy to defranchise Kampala dwellers.

Government on Tuesday tabled an amendment to KCCA Act which seeks to provide for the election of Kampala Lord Mayor among councillors.

Addressing a news conference on Wednesday in Kampala, Lukwago who was flanked by opposition leaders said: “We hope Parliament will not be stampeded. All eyes must now be on Parliament. This Bill is not about Lukwago. It's about people's power. They are now trying to grab people's power and vest it in one person."

The minister in charge of Kampala, Frank Tumwebaze, however explained that the election of the Lord Mayor was not removed but the mode of election was being proposed to change.

Lukwago insisted: “We are not going to accept these manoeuvres. We are going to resist in whatever manner provided for in the Constitution. We are putting the Attorney General on notice. He shouldn't be allowed to be used. Don't play around with people's power.”

“If they say that the Lord Mayor's office is ceremonial why are they struggling to strip the Lord Mayor of all executive powers?” Lukwago asked.

The Kampala Capital City Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2015, also seeks strengthen the authority of the central government in the administration of the city by giving more powers to the minister for Kampala to be the political head of the city and the Lord Mayor only remains with legislative powers.

The current KCCA vests power in the Lord Mayor to be the political head of the city.

The Bill also seeks to create an expanded Metropolitan Kampala city which includes the neighbouring districts of Mukono, Wakiso, and Mpigi.