The newly approved KCCA amendment bill 2019 has drawn mixed reactions from different Politicans and thought leaders.
Parliament passed the KCCA Amendment Bill last week after years of debate, the bill was tabled in 2015 with the aim of addressing the leadership challenges in Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).
The major controversy and debate stem from provision that defines the power of the Lord Mayor and the office of the Kampala Minister following power struggle between the two parties.
In an interview with the former mayor of Kampala Hajji Nasser Ntege Sebaggala, he said the passing of the bill will not solve KCCA challenges if the Lord Mayor fails to work with the current regime.
He noted that Erias Lukwago should not think of fighting the government instead he should cooperate with all the stalk holders to see the progress of the city.
“The issue is not about who wins and who loses but the main issue is working together with the government to develop the city, forget the past and cooperate with the government otherwise nothing good will come out of this law if he continues to fight the government,” Sebaggala said.
Sebaggala urged Erias Lukwago to remain calm, composed and cooperate with the government if he is to benefit from the law.
“If he cooperates with the government, he will benefit from this law, but if he continues with the fight and criticising the government, nothing much he will gain from the law because the government has all the powers and the resources, “he said.
He advised Lord mayor to use the law to help the people of Kampala other than involving himself into petty fights. He also noted that government has nothing to lose because it has state machinery and can take away all the councilors from him.
“There is no any politician who can inject a lot of money to develop the city knowing that the city is in the hands of opposition,he may lack interest of monitoring the resources, “he said.
He noted that the government is still having upper hand on all the issues regarding day to day running of the city and opposition should not think that government has lost it all.
“if he keeps on bragging about his victory ,it will not help, the situation will worsen, I think he should just change and work together with the government and develop the city but if he keeps on opposing, then it means he is still politicking and you cannot win because you don’t have resources to develop the city,” he said.
He noted that Councilors may refuse to work with the Lord Mayor and yet it is better to lobby for the city. He also added that the lord mayor should not show his winning side otherwise the president may also refuse to sign the bill.
“The President will refuse to sign the bill based on noise coming up about the victory saying he won,he won, who did you win?” he asked.
He urged lord mayor to stop unnecessary bickering and work together will the minister for Kampala to see that the city is taken to the next level.
