Kampala’s Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has invoked his authority to halt the ongoing process for the acquisition of land meant for a new waste management facility. His decision was driven by what he called “opaqueness and controversies” surrounding the procurement process and the “melodrama” unfolding in the Council.
A heated altercation broke out during a Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) council meeting today, when two councilors, Hakim Akizza and John Mary Ssebuufu, refused to apologize for failing to present a report on the city’s growing garbage problem. The incident, which took place in a session chaired by Speaker Zahara Luyirika, escalated into a physical fight, forcing the council to adjourn prematurely.
The KCCA council convened to address a key agenda item, the management of garbage in the city, which has become an increasingly critical issue due to overcrowding.
The report was expected to be presented by Akizza, the City Development Officer, and Ssebuufu, the Finance Officer, who sit on the City Executive Committee. However, in a previous meeting, the two councilors left abruptly after receiving a phone call, without submitting the report as required.
While addressing a presser on Wednesday, Lukwago revoked the presentation of a report.
“I direct that the process for the acquisition of alternative land for the establishment of waste management facilities be halted until the City Executive Committee is finished with a comprehensive, progressive report.” he said
He explained that this decision was not taken lightly, noting the pressing need for land, especially with the growing waste crisis in the city.
“The city is choking on garbage, piles of garbage everywhere. We urgently need our land, We must guard against plunder, which is likely to happen out of this crisis.” he explained
The mayor expressed deep concern over what he characterized as hidden agendas behind the scenes, hinting at corruption: “Considering what is happening, what we know, what we have told you… we cannot allow this process to continue.”
During the address, the Lord Mayor also directly addressed the behavior of certain council members and KCCA leadership. Referring to the “melodrama” during Council meetings, he warned that no one, not even councillors, should try to oppose this directive.
He elaborated: “We expect all the Councillors, all the Mayors, all the leaders to abide by this directive… I do not expect any City leaders vetoing this decision.”
The Lord Mayor also questioned why certain individuals, particularly the Honorable Sebufu, were being targeted during this process, using a football analogy to make his point.
He asked, “Why are they tackling Sebufu? You saw what happened. You have all this on camera. Why is Sebufu the one who is the accounting officer, but the one who is overseeing the overseer is the one who is getting the boot?”
The Lord Mayor’s address also delved into corruption allegations within KCCA, citing a recent Inspectorate of Government (IG) report that ranked KCCA among the “most corrupt local government authorities in the country” and the “third most corrupt entity in the country.”
He recalled back in April 2022,when his office had engaged the IG, urging the body to investigate a number of “dubious and illicit dealings that have bogged down the transformation agenda of the city.”
He stressed, “It has bogged down the transformation agenda. Not dogged. It has bogged it down.”
In relation to the recent waste slide tragedy, which occurred on August 10, 2024, and claimed over 50 lives, the Lord Mayor expressed frustration with the slow response from the IG’s office.
He stated: “We have persistently made an impassioned call for your office to honor this commitment, but to no avail.”
He further revealed that the tragedy had triggered a probe by the IG, and that evidence implicating members of KCCA’s technical team was handed over:
“Cogent evidence implicating some members of the technical team was furnished to you, specifically with regards to misappropriation and squandering of Uganda’s 4.1 billion annual allocation towards the maintenance of today’s dump site.”
The Lord Mayor also called upon Parliament to expedite its investigations into the KCCA’s handling of the waste management crisis.
“By copy of this letter, parliament is hereby requested to fast track the investigations being conducted by the committee of statutory authorities and state enterprises and make a final pronouncement over the matter as soon as practicable.”
Adding that: “Our call to the office of the IG… number one, expedite the process of releasing the long-awaited report regarding the waste slide tragedy. Once the report is given to us, we shall act as a conveyor belt, just as a conveyor belt… And then we see anybody raising ‘Katemba,’ we deal with them.”
