Controversy as KCCA councillors are ferried to Kyankwanzi

KAMPALA- After one month of bickering, the majority of Kampala Capital City Authority councillors on Tuesday travelled to the National Leadership Institute (NALI), Kyankwanzi for a scheduled leadership training.

The training is organised by Kampala Minister, Beti Olive Kamya.

Although the training had earlier been criticise by a section of city politicians and leaders, Ms defended it, saying that she was approached last year by councillors to offer them a “refresher course.”

“Those who are trying to block the training are just day dreaming and they actually hate development. The councillors approached me last year and the President [Yoweri Museveni] okayed their demand,” she said.

Daily Monitor has learnt that 218 city councillors from five Kampala Division have gone for the training.

However, other councillors have rejected it, after questioning its relevance and the manner and spirit in which it was organised.

The contested training, whose preparations commenced last year by Ms Kamya has left Kampala Lord Mayor, Mr Erias Lukwago, Division mayors and other authority councillors guessing on what will transpire during the one- week training.

Mr Lukwago has since alleged that Ms Kamya is ferrying councillors to Kyankwanzi to indoctrinate them with the idea of supporting the lifting of the presidential limit and to use to get their backing for her political schemes in the city.

According to the programme of the retreat, the training will commence on Wednesday and end on Tuesday next week. Mr Museveni is schedules to close the training as the chief guest.

Sources privy to the preparations of the event intimated to us that councillors last year requested Ms Kamya for a meeting with the President to explain to him their grievances as Kampala leaders.

A deal was later brokered by Ms Kamya through the State House comptroller, Ms Lucy Nakyobe.

Mr Bruhan Byaruhanga, the Male Councillor representing Kyambogo University, who is also the coordinator of the Kyankwanzi training, said that every councillor has a right to go to Kyankwanzi because they are adults whose conscience can’t be compromised.

“We were all elected by people and the Kyankwanzi training will benefit them because it will equip us with knowledge on how to deliver services to them. Those who have chosen not to go have a right not to do so but as far as I know, the training is open to any councillor and mayor willing to go,” he said.

NRM mobiliser

Mr Geoffrey Kayigo, the Kampala Central Division Councillor said they want to go and ask the President why the people he appointed to lead Kampala city are divided.

“The Minister, Executive Director [Ms Jeniffer Musisi] and the Lord Mayor don’t see eye to eye and this worries us a lot as city leaders. There is no way we are go to develop Kampala if the leaders are divided,” he said.

However, Ms Doreen Nyanjura, the Female Councillor representing Makerere University said: “I have no business in Kyankwazi and I can’t start having it now. Institutions should be respected so that they can independently do their work and I don’t believe in kneeling before Mr Museveni. Ms Kamya is now an NRM mobiliser and she is doing all this to appease her master.”

Mr Lukwago couldn’t be reached for a comment.
Kampala city has at least 280 councillors from five divisions and those who represent various areas KCCA headquarters.

The divisions comprise of 236 councillors while KCCA has 34 councillors.
At least 203 councillors from the divisions and 15 councillors from the authority have travelled to Kyankwanzi. None of the division mayors have travelled to NALI.
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