New KCCA Act will streamline planning, says minister

A power struggle between the Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago (right) and the KCCA executive director, Jennifer Musisi (left), has for the last six years undermined the political decision-making processes at City Hall

The Government's move to amend the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Act 2010 is aimed at facilitating the establishment of the Metropolitan Physical Planning Authority (MPPA) and provide clarity on the roles of the Lord Mayor, according to state minister for Kampala Benna Namugwanya.

The MPPA establishment, Namugwanya said, will streamline planning for the city and the surrounding areas.

The KCCA amendment Bill (2015), according to the minister, seeks to address three issues, including setting up the long awaited MPPA, provide for clear roles of the Lord Mayor and reduce friction at City Hall.

The setting up of the MPPA is provided for in the current KCCA Act, but it has never been established.

The authority, according to the current law, is supposed to develop the physical development plan for Kampala and its metropolitan areas, including Mukono, Mpigi and Wakiso districts.

According to the current law, the MPPA would be comprised of a chairperson and four persons qualified and experienced in physical planning, civil engineering, architecture, environment, public health or surveying.

They would be appointed by the Kampala minister.

In the amendment, the Government wants the authority to have a secretariat run by the chief executive officer (CEO), who would be responsible for its operations, including managing its funds and implementing its decisions. The CEO would head the authority for five years.

Addressing a press conference at the Office of the President in Kampala yesterday, Namugwanya said the MPPA committee, which was supposed to be constituted at the inception of KCCA, has never been appointed, but noted that once the law is amended, the authority would be set up.

But the Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, on Wednesday said the amendment was designed to throw him out of office as some Ugandans condemned what they called the practice of making laws to target individuals at the expense of service delivery.

A power struggle between Lukwago and the KCCA executive director, Jennifer Musisi, has for the last six years undermined the political decision-making processes at City Hall and almost turned the Lord Mayor into a ceremonial figure, with the technical team (headed by Musisi) implementing projects without involving the (political) head.

However, Namugwanya stated that the proposed amendment is also intended to provide clarity on the roles of the Lord Mayor, KCCA executive director and Kampala minister.

But in reality, the proposed amendment seeks to change the voting system for the Lord Mayor.