Lukwago blames Tumwebaze, Musisi for city authority woes
Mr Lukwago (L) consults his lawyers before the start of the tribunal hearing yesterday. PHOTO BY FAISWAL KASIRYE.
What you need to know:
The Lord Mayor says the Kampala Capital City Authority “is suffering from multiple organ failure” and experiencing an “institutional inertia”.
Kampala
City Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago yesterday denied all allegations levelled against him by 17 councillors.
Mr Lukwago instead heaped blame on the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director, Ms Jennifer Musisi, and the Minister for Presidency, who is also in-charge of Kampala, Mr Frank Tumwebaze.
He said accusing him individually of failing the KCCA institution is unfair and witch-hunt.
“I have had a roller-coaster life since I assumed office,” said Mr Lukwago. “It is inappropriate to say I am incompetent yet all my development plans have been failed by lack of vital bodies responsible for planning Kampala’s development.”
Testifying before a six-person tribunal investigating allegations of his misconduct in office yesterday, Mr Lukwago said: “KCCA is simply suffering from multiple organ failure. And we are experiencing institutional inertia.”
In May, 17 councillors petitioned Mr Tumwebaze accusing the lord mayor of abuse of office, incompetence and misconduct. The city political head yesterday said accusing him of abuse of office is malicious and intended to malign him.
Mr Lukwago, who took to the witness chair at 11:15am, submitted to the tribunal plans he claimed were on his behalf developed by some of the world’s best developmental architects from Israel. “My Lord, I am literary seated with these beautiful plans and crying with them in my office,” he said.
Guided by his lead counsel, Mr Abdu Katuntu, the lord mayor said his efforts to engage all the ministers who have reigned at KCCA were futile. “I submitted my nominee names for the public accounts committee of KCCA to the minister, but the response up-to-date has not yielded any fruitful results,” he said.
“I engaged with the then minister Muruli Mukasa on the issue of constituting the Metropolitan Physical Planning Authority, he showed interest, and some steps were taken. But since minister Frank Tumwebaze assumed office, I am waiting for that authority all in vain,” Mr Lukwago added.
He pleaded to Justice Catherine Bamugemereire to allow him time to attend a function with the Kabaka today, which the judge allowed. He will be required to come back tomorrow for further evidence submission.
