NRM caucus proposals illegal, says Lukwago

Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago

The Lord Mayor of Kampala, Mr Erias Lukwago, has declared the NRM caucus proposal that seeks among other things, to have his position elected amongst the councillors instead of general adult suffrage as unconstitutional.

Speaking to the Daily Monitor yesterday, Mr Lukwago said the move violates Article 1 of the 1995 Constitution gives power to the people. “How can they bring such proposals without carrying out any study or referendum?” Mr Lukwago asked.

During the NRM parliamentary caucus meeting at Kyankwanzi last week, the Minister for Presidency and Kampala, Mr Frank Tumwebaze, said the party MPs had endorsed proposals to have a Lord mayor elected among division councillors, expand the size of Kampala as far as Entebbe, Mukono and Kayunga, among others.

However, Mr Lukwago said the “government schemes” of removing from office would collapse. “They started with the tribunal (that found him guilty of incompetence and abuse of office), the councillors tried electing amongst them an acting mayor, it collapsed and the battle is not over,” Mr Lukwago said.

But Mr Tumwebaze advised the Lord Mayor to table his own resolutions if he had any instead of lamenting. “What ever happened at Kyankwazi were NRM resolutions and we own them. We will take all the resolutions through the right legislations,” the minister said.

Councillor Benard Luyiga said the proposals were timely and aimed at locking out Mr Lukwago from contesting again.