Musisi on spot for missing council meetings

The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director Jennifer Musisi has been put on spot for consistently missing council meetings at a time when councillors are discussing critical issues.

Musisi last attended KCCA council on July 13 when it discussed Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago's salary arrears. This particular sitting was snubbed by Lukwago protesting Musisi's affidavit in court saying KCCA would not pay the Lord Mayor's salary arrears amounting to 560 million Shillings.

Though the council had resolved that KCCA legal directorate should not file a defence in the case filed by Lukwago, Musisi went ahead to take oath in an affidavit stating that Lukwago "is not presently entitled to any payment whatsoever." The council turned hot when councillors castigated the legal directorate for failure to implement their resolutions.

Since July 13th, Lukwago has convened four council meetings discussing critical issues such as the drowning of a vendor in Nakivubo Channel and how Godwin Katugume, a former bodyguard of the executive director ended up becoming supervisor of the KCCA law enforcement team. Others are suspension and interdiction of Katugume and Robert Kituma Rusoke, the KCCA chief law enforcement officer and how Nateete market land titles disappeared from KCCA ending up in the hands of individuals who are threatening to evict vendors from the market.

On August 10, Musisi communicated to Lukwago that she could not attend council meetings because of personal safety concerns. Musisi noted that she had been advised to restrict her movements while her security is being reviewed. This council was convened to discuss the drowning of Basemera Olivia in Nakivubo Channel on August 4th. The council resolved that Godwin Katugume, Supervisor of the KCCA law enforcement team and Robert Kituma Rusoke, the KCCA chief law enforcement officer be suspended and interdicted.

But on August 11, Musisi penned a letter to Kampala Minister Beti Kamya implicating the political wing led by the Lord Mayor, Division Mayors and councillors for inciting vendors to attack KCCA law enforcement officers. She argued that the actions of the politicians have resulted into attacks by the vendors and members of the public against KCCA law enforcement officers leading to physical injuries and loss of equipment.

The next council was held on August 17 and Musisi communicated to Lukwago that she had taken a day off her annual leave. Councillors were furious arguing that Musisi who feared for her personal security was seen on TV screens officiating activities such as receiving KCCA carnival sponsorship money from sponsors on behalf of the institution.

When asked why Musisi was officiating KCCA activities between August 17 and August 22 when she was supposed to be on leave, the authority's spokesperson Peter Kaujju said she cancelled her leave because there was duty which made her return to office.

"She was away on her leave but because of business that needed her, she had to cancel her leave and come back to office…there was duty which called and she had to come back to office," Kaujju said.

Council resumed on August 27 when Musisi was out of office. On August 17, Musisi had communicated to Minister Kamya that she would be travelling to Washington DC from August 23 to August 30 to attend a seminar on leadership and management in international development at the International Law Institute.

Council convened again on September 6 but Musisi was out of the country. In her August 17 letter, she had also communicated that she would be proceeding to attend World Bank Urbanisation and Poverty Reduction Research Conference on September 8 in Washington DC. She further said she had been invited to attend Inaugural council of the International Growth Council at London School of Economics and Political Science. The event is scheduled for September 17. She will then travel to Canada for meetings with strategic KCCA partners.
During the September 6 council, Rubaga South Councillor Nakabugo Faridah raised the issue of Musisi's long absence from council meetings.

Responding to Nakabugo's submissions, the acting executive director Sam Sserunkuma told council that Musisi had travelled out of the country.

"The executive director is away for a specific period. She clearly indicates the date when she is away and assigns me duties of her office as acting executive director...."

Kaujju says council should take executive director's office not as Musisi's personal property. He says in all council meetings, Musisi has delegated office authority.
From September 18 to 28, Musisi will take days off her annual leave and will be back in office on October 2 according to the August 17 letter.
Council resumes on Thursday next week.