Both Lukwago and Musisi are victims of power politics

What you need to know:

  • Understanding Musisi. If you want to understand why Musisi resigned, you should ask yourself why the position of deputy executive director of KCCA has not been filled with a substantive occupant.

The resignation of Jennifer Musisi (PhD) from the position of executive director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) did not surprise me. In fact, what surprised me was the celebrations Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago allowed to visit unto himself.

Even with the allowance to express some bitterness, Lukwago’s celebrations were not necessary. Like Lukwago, Musisi was a victim of the political dynamics obtaining in the polity.

With delegated power whose authority could only be executed through administrative actions, Musisi might have felt or thought she had the leverage to act like she did (to the chagrin of many). She was wrong footed and I ask all and sundry to appreciate and sympathise with her (as a victim).

Very soon, she will also realise that Lukwago may not be the villain ‘we’ (Musisi and I) framed and fought. He was merely a victim of the structural organisation of power in this our country. Alor, c’est comme ca la vie (so, that is life mwattu).
And by the way, before Musisi resigned, her deputy had already bolted.

If you want to understand why Musisi resigned, you should ask yourself why the position of deputy executive director of KCCA has not been filled with a substantive occupant.
The answer is in the poor administrative management of the affairs of the State. The State has been reduced to a kintu. Did you know how long the country spent without a substantive Chief Justice?

With Musisi’s departure, we may spend a very long time without a substantive executive director. And if the next KCCA executive director is not Allen Catherine Kagina, all the staff Musisi sourced from Uganda Revenue Authority will be on their way out of KCCA. Ah oui, c’est comme ca la vie.

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In 2013, I was a frequent visitor to City Hall, the seat of Kampala Capital City Authority. Since I am always associated with trouble, it is not by coincidence that my visits were during the time the Lord Mayor of Kampala had issues with the executive director of Kampala Capital City Authority.

I was sent to City Hall by someone (please don’t ask who it was) to assess the possible political fallout (consequences) in the event that KCCA Lord Mayor Lukwago was impeached.

I met and talked to the power brokers among the so-called ‘technical wing’ of KCCA. I made an assessment of the political risk and advised accordingly. I am, therefore, familiar with the shenanigans that led to the impeachment of Lukwago; and oh yes, I was one of the very few ordinary persons in the precincts of City Hall premises during the session in which Lord Mayor Lukwago was impeached.

I met Musisi several times. But one thing I am unlikely to forget about Musisi is shutting down the city. One day, the public will (need to) know our behind-the-scenes acts that culminated into press conference addressed by then prime minister Amama Mbabazi over the weekend and the consequent ‘un-shutting’ of the city the following Monday.

The lady just shut the city pwaa! No one in government (cabinet ministers) had prior communication of this act. And the rumour was that not even the minister responsible for Kampala Capital City Authority was in the know. Musisi spooked all of us...

The biggest failure we have as a country is that of administrative management. This failure is a consequence of the structural organisation of power in this polity. Both Musisi and Lukwago are mere victims of that failure.
With a President who moves money like Chuck Norris, we are all victims.

Mr Bisiika is the executive editor of East African Flagpost.