The Lord Mayor of Kampala Erias Lukwago welcomed the new Management team led by the Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka who assumed offices Thursday.
During the handover ceremony, Lukwago reiterated his Manifesto which was enormously endorsed by the people of Kampala and approved by the Authority.
“It is my singular honour and privilege to welcome you all, ladies and gentlemen, to this auspicious occasion as the New Leadership of the Authority is being inaugurated and ushered into Office.
I should state right from the outset that it’s by the Grace of the Almighty God and, obviously, the mighty will of the people that I am finally back at the Lord Mayor’s Parlor,” Lukwago said.
Manifesto
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND RULE OF LAW
I have a strong conviction that it’s only a vibrant and Democratic Institution, rather than individual whims, discretion or personal rule that will deliver a modern and functional City that we all crave to see and live in. It’s granted that the current legal framework is fraught with glaring defects, but at least it creates an elaborate governance structure which, unfortunately, is dysfunctional. My immediate task, therefore, is to re-constitute and streamline the functioning of all organs that constitute the Institution of KCCA under the law. The KCCA Act establishes various organs with clearly defined roles, which, inter-alia, include the Authority comprising of the Lord Mayor, Deputy Lord Mayor and Councilors as the Supreme governing body; the office of the lord mayor which is the nerve centre for policy formulation and monitoring and is vested with powers to initiate programs for the development of the city; the public service headed by the Executive Director, which is the implementing agency of the Authority: the Division Urban Councils which are entities under the Authority with delegated functions; and the office of the Minister for KCCA with supervisory and veto powers. It also provides for the office of the RCC and many others.
It’s therefore incumbent upon all of us to respect and implement the said structural framework as stipulated in the KCCA Act and my government will vigorously work towards eliminating impunity and arbitrariness in the management of City affairs. Equally significant, is the total eradication of the culture of dichotomizing KCCA into clusters of “political” and technical wings, with the attendant derogatory connotations that has, regrettably, created an adversarial relationship. The central focus of my leadership will certainly be placed on the vital element of institutional governance, guided by the philosophy of a shared vision.
PROPER PLANNING AND SUSTAINABLE TRANSFORMATION
I do recognise the fact that there is immense pressure on the Authority leadership and staff to make some quick fixes or urgent interventions to ameliorate the dire state of affairs in Kampala. But you will all agree with me that sustainable transformation of Kampala into a 21st Century Capital City requires serious, holistic and comprehensive planning. I have previously mentioned that all efforts towards developing a comprehensive and consolidated plan for the development of Kampala under the Country and Town Planning Act, which was later repealed by the National Planning Act of 2010, have not yielded positive results. Consequently, we resorted to piecemeal planning with scattered instruments like the Greater Kampala Master Plan of 1968, Kampala Urban Transport and Improvement Plan (KUTIP), Kampala Institutional and Infrastructural Development Project (KIIDP), Kampala Integrated Environment Management plan (KIEMP), Kampala Drainage Master Plan (KDMP), Markets and Agricultural Improvement Project (MATIP), Slum Upgrading Plan etc. I have already highlighted the relevant parts of the National Development Plan 1and 2 as well as Vision 2040.
The KCCA Act envisages Kampala and the Metropolitan areas of Mukono, Wakiso and Mpigi as one planning area under the umbrella of the Metropolitan Physical Planning Authority. It’s this Authority which is charged with the obligation of evaluating the Status Report and proposals for the transformation of Kampala made by a team of consultants from Israel and South Africa. This voluminous Report was dully presented to KCCA in 2012. I regret to inform you that the said vital body, which, in my humble opinion is the engine of transformation, is non-existent.
My Administration will impress upon the Minister for Kampala the urgent need of establishing the said Metropolitan Physical Planning Authority to kick-start and fast track the process of crafting and designing a new, synchronized and consolidated structural plan for the transformation of Kampala and the Metropolitan areas. We must bring to a halt the uphazard sprawling of structures without any guiding instrument. The practice of whimsical approval of building plans and issuance of occupational permits to incomplete structures must also stop. All individuals owning structures within our area of jurisdiction, particularly the CBD, shall be required to give regular facelifts to their premises, default whereof shall attract sanctions.
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
The current legal regime governing KCCA creates a relatively good system of checks and balances, all intended to curtail excesses we are all prone to. Part of our mandate as elected leaders is to play an oversight role or carry out a political audit by way of scrutinising the reports of the Executive Director and other directorates as well as other agencies like the contracts committee and various boards. We are also enjoined to monitor all the civil works done by the public service of the Authority.
My Government will not compromise even an inch on this vital principle. I am convinced beyond all shades of doubt that it’s only strict compliance with those values that will guarantee delivery of quality services, probity and value for money. This will, ultimately, engender the much desired transformation of Kampala. Accordingly, I will nominate names of five (5) Certified Public Accountants to constitute the Public Accounts Committee and present the same to the Authority, in one of the initial sittings, for approval under the provisions of S. 58 of the KCCA Act. I will, in the same vein, move the Authority to pass a resolution establishing a probe committee to inquire into, and evaluate all the transactions and civil works executed and/or done during the period when the Authority was not sitting. We must have respect for the procurement laws, the Financial and Accounting Regulations etc.
Where necessary, I shall crack the whip on the Authority standing committees to execute their oversight duties meticulously and diligently.
EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
KCCA is currently perceived as a brutal, coercive and oppressive law enforcement agency as opposed to a developmental and regulatory Municipal Authority. I should, however, hasten to unequivocally state that enforcement of municipal ordinances, trade order, sanitation, hygiene and building standards is a given and cannot be wished away.
But that does not presuppose use of excessive force and brutality. We must strike a delicate balance between law enforcement and social justice. Paradigm shift and rebranding of the Authority, to give it a human face is inevitable. My administration shall explore and devise mechanisms that will inculcate a culture of responsible behavior amongst the citizenry and shall ensure that the Authority complies with the universal values and standards in enforcing municipal ordinances. I will table before the Authority a Bill for an ordinance to regulate the recruitment, training, command structure, operations and disciplinary mechanisms for our law enforcement force.
We shall also revisit all legal instruments regulating street vending, with a view of gazetting particular areas for street vendors. We shall also enact legislations to regulate the development, leadership and running of Markets, boda-boda cyclists and taxi industry, special hire cubs, car washing bays, artisans e.t.c. This shall be done in consultation with the communities in those respective sectors. We, in the same vein, appeal to other organs of the state, particularly Parliament and cabinet, to strengthen social security systems and safety nets that would mitigate the socio-economic vagaries of transformation. The critical issue of unemployment and massive land evictions must be addressed. On our part as KCCA, we shall strictly comply with the Constitutional provisions regarding prior compensation and or relocation where people are required to yield vacant possession of land for infrastructure development. We also intend to re-activate the monthly mass clean-up exercises under the rubrics of City Yange. We shall construct and equip a number of modern remand homes and/or rehabilitation centers for street children, drug addicts, juvenile delinquents, kifeesi etc.
The practice of crafting policies skewed in favour of a privileged few must be stamped out. We commit ourselves to developing well balanced strategic plans, with specific deliverables and strict timelines. That way, we shall lay a firm foundation for the development of a functional capital city, which is accommodative and user friendly to all manner of people of whatever creed and background; a capital city that offers equal opportunities to the affluent and indigents, riff-raffs and moguls, youths, women, elderly and persons with disabilities.
We shall roll out comprehensive programs to address societal disparities and streamline the implementation of the existing specialized funds or stop gap interventions such as the community development fund (CDD), Youth Livelihood Program, youth employment bureau e.t.c.
FRUGALITY AND PRIORITISATION IN THE BUDGETING PROCESSES
The KCCA Act confers absolute powers onto the Authority to make our budgetary appropriations, which should be balanced. I recognise and appreciate that our budget has improved several folds in the last five years, up from approx. UGX. 50 Billion in 2010 to over UGX. 536 Billion in the next financial year, excluding donor-funded programs. Much as these funds are inadequate, given the enormous challenges before us, we must rationalize our budgetary appropriations to properly rhyme with the mission and vision of the Authority. I have also noted with concern that Division Urban councils have been operating without their own budgets, thereby relegating them to a level of lower administrative units. Even small things like getting office imprest, they have to dash to the Headquarters and literally beg the Accounting officer. We must put our heads together and address that challenge as soon as possible.
I should also state that the bulk of our funds, over 90%, should come from the consolidated fund. The continued imposition of exorbitant direct taxes on small businesses in the informal sector is untenable and inimical to sustainable development. The Central Government should earmark at least 4% of the National budget towards the transformation of Kampala, which will translate into approx. UGX 1Trillion, as the National Budget for the financial year 2016/2017 stands at UGX. 26.3 Trillion. My administration shall, therefore, explore possibilities of revisiting the current tax regime, with a view of revising downwards direct taxes like trade licenses, taxi dues, market dues, garbage collection fees e.t.c.
My Government will strictly observe the principle of frugality and prioritization in the pursuance and implementation of the transformation agenda, putting much emphasis on the blue print, infrastructural development, floods, mud and dust control, paving of roads and elimination of pot holes, solid waste management and recycling, improvement of housing conditions and sanitation (especially in slum areas), street lighting; and construction of common user facilities such as modern markets, parks, parking towers, public toilets, recreation facilities and green belts e.t.c.
PROMOTING KAMPALA AS A HUB FOR INVESTMENT AND TOURISM
With its rich cultural heritage, beautiful terrain or landscape, huge water bodies, particularly Lake Victoria, tropical climate and soils, hospitable and cultured people, Kampala has got a huge potential to attract tourists and genuine investors. My Government will, therefore, make deliberate policies towards the preservation, development and promotion of our heritage, cultural sites, recreation facilities, museums, monuments, artifacts, public libraries, shopping outlets for all types of souvenirs and paraphernalia, and all sorts of leisure and sporting activities. Annual festivities like The Kampala Carnival shall be remodeled to showcase our indigenous cultures and investment potentials or opportunities rather than promoting western lifestyle. I would be disingenuous to myself if I did not mention that I feel extremely nostalgic about the old emblem or logo of the Authority, with the image of an Impala engraved thereon, as a symbol of our cherished heritage. We shall explore the possibility of re-designing the KCCA Emblem to reflect that crucial aspect of our history.
During the 2013 Beijing UNESCO Conference of World Cites, a KCCA delegation headed by myself filed a formal request to be clustered amongst the UNESCO cities of literature and learning. Once this application is considered and approved, Kampala will be leveraged in the East African region as a centre of academic excellence, drawing students from Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and South Sudan. This will go a long way in cementing our bond as sister cities and fast track the East African integration.