By Sekaggya Seka Moses
Kampala, Uganda – Amidst the recent controversy surrounding the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), aspiring Mubende Municipal MP Bob Richard Kyamanywa has come forward with potential solutions to address the authority’s long-standing issues.
It’s barely one month since the now former Executive Director (E.D) vowed not to resign following the recent disaster at Kiteezi land fill.
Her statement was clear; ‘Iam not going to resign. Iam not going to run away from this Kiteezi challenge.
Iam not going anywhere until sustainable solutions for waste management in Kampala have been found’.
In the same statement, she cited insufficient funding as the biggest challenge behind waste collection in the city, a song she has sung since she was confirmed for this job.
Interestingly, a full presentation of decommissioning the landfill was presented to parliament at the beginning of the year.
Until to date, there is no feedback on the presentation made, neither have the city legislators supported to follow up on the demands in this presentation appropriately.
I recall that all this tragedy happened when city finances were closed since the financial year had almost just began.
No one is putting government to task to explain the delayed quarterly disbursement of funds, and the untimely response when the tragedy befell our people.
Worse still, the E.D is relieved of her duties basing on audit findings with no guidance from the public service commission as guided in the KCCA act.
So now, why fire, before a clear trace of the status quo is defined? She is now the scapegoat covering up for the insufficient structure and the people responsible for supporting her to do her role.
This government ignored the reports and complaints about the potential dangers of this landfill in a fast growing city like Kampala, including the World Bank report of 2015.
Absurd! Annually, over ugx 4billion shillings is approved to cater for garbage collection processes including the landfill.
Instead of putting the authorities in the city to account for these funds, legislators are not up to the oversight role game, the Lord Mayor is speech-making as usual and city hall has become a battlefield.
Sadly, the ministers of Kampala are blaming it on other leaders as if they are not directly concerned with overseeing the administration of the business of the authority.
There is blame game everywhere. What we need are sustainable solutions. We must restore leadership sanity in the capital city. If Dorothy is gone, the 2 Kampala ministers should follow suit for failing on their job as well.
Am sure the people of Kampala are watching those politicians who simply enjoy playing political games at the expense of service delivery.
The model of managing city affairs and an unseen hand failed the city since the KCCA law was enacted.
This law must be repealed to avoid assumption of authority and confusion in the city. I wish the new leaders the very best of luck.”
Bob Richard Kyamanywa, is a member of the National Unity Platform (NUP), contesting the Mubende Municipal MP seat for the term 2026-2031.