KCCA has no mandate to tear down campaign posters - Lukwago

Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has criticised recent statements by Kampala ministers Betty Amongi and Benny Namugwanya on campaign posters in Kampala saying that Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has no legal instrument blocking the pinning up of posters.

Lukwago explained that the guidelines of pinning up posters in Kampala are a preserve of the Electoral Commission (EC) and not KCCA.

Last week both ministers come up with guidelines stating that KCCA will remove all campaign posters in the city in non-gazetted areas.

Lukwago however said that this is not KCCA's mandate adding that KCCA had not drafted an ordinance on posters, adding that the only law in place is that of outdoor advertising.

He said they have no reason to remove the posters and that they should not meddle in the affairs of EC.

"They have no business in Kampala elections. Don't purport to regulate political activities in Kampala when all the mandate is in the EC's hands," Lukwago said.

"How candidates conduct campaigns and pin posters is none of their business. They came up saying KCCA has come up with regulations. KCCA has no role in how campaigns are going to be conducted in Kampala," he added.

Lukwago said the ministers have gone to the extent of saying they will block advertising trucks from moving in Kampala.

"This is a campaign season and once flagged off, it can only be regulated by EC," he emphasised.

Namugwanya last week, said posters should not be placed on buildings, signposts, electricity poles, street lights, and near CCTV cameras among others.

She added that it's a criminal offense that attracts a fine of sh11m to the owner of the poster for littering the city.

Namugwanya asked all candidates intending to drive through the city while campaigning on trucks with public address systems to seek permission from KCCA for guidance.

"The continued haphazard placement and display of advertisement in the form of flyers, posters, placards, and billboards in areas that are not authorised for such purposes," Namugwanya said.

According to Namugwanya, the posters have visually constrained both motorists and pedestrians from easily navigating through the city.

This, she said is leading to accidents, blockage of walkways, and increased littering which has in the end contributed to the blockage of drainages, obstruction of security installations like street cameras, and covering of street addresses and road signs.

Quoting section 97 (4) of the National Environment Management Act, 2019, which provides for prohibition of littering, she said a person who contravenes the law by involving in the above-mentioned acts, commits an offence and is liable on conviction, to a fine of not exceeding 550 currency points (sh11m).