Mr Erias Nalukoola (centre) swears in as Kawempe North MP at Parliament in Kampala on March 26, 2025. PHOTO/ Ibrahim Kavuma
Following his swearing-in, the Kawempe North MP, Mr Elias Nalukoola, has said he would, in his less than a year's tenure in Parliament, advocate for the devolution of power from City Hall to Kampala’s divisions as one of the ways to address challenges affecting residents.
“We will advocate for the transfer of power from the centre to the division. The finances meant for desilting drainage channels and fixing roads are being controlled by City Hall, yet they have been reluctant to act,” he said.
“They should have worked on these drainage channels long ago to prevent flooding, but all in vain,” Mr Nalukoola told the Daily Monitor in an interview at Parliament yesterday.
His call comes from floods precipitated by heavy rain that pounded Kampala and its suburbs yesterday, cutting off roads and submerging houses.
Mr Nalukoola warned that if the flooding is not addressed, many lives could be lost.
He noted that as local leaders, there is little they can do since all budgets are controlled at the centre (City Hall), which he said has failed the citizens.
He also explained that due to inadequate budgets, garbage collection is irregular, which has led to waste clogging drainage channels, worsening the flooding problem.
A police report indicated that seven lives were lost, alongside various accidents resulting from yesterday’s heavy rain. Mr Nalukoola said all these issues could be resolved with adequate funding.
Additionally, he noted that the constituency has only one health centre, located in Komamboga, while Kawempe National Referral Hospital serves the entire nation.
“With the growing population in the area, health facilities, which are characterised by limited equipment, human resources, and finances, leave residents struggling to access health services,” he said.
He added that he plans to use his platform in Parliament to advocate for increased funding for the responsible departments and ministries, prioritising Kawempe North.
The swearing -in
While giving his maiden speech after swearing-in at the Ppeaker’s chamber, Mr Nalukoola requested for additional time on the Order Paper to address the challenges facing his constituency.
Mr Nalukoola said his predecessor, Muhammad Ssegirinya, was unable to represent the people effectively due to prolonged illness, leaving many issues unaddressed.
“I request that when the sitting resumes, I will be accorded an opportunity to communicate to Parliament and the nation about the state of affairs of Kawempe North constituency, which has not been represented substantively for so long. At that moment, I will make a request that we be accorded some more minutes, those which have not been used by our beloved Ssegirinya. Indeed, the people of Kawempe North will be so grateful, because even as we talk now, we are suffering from floods, among other predicaments,”Nalukoola pleaded.
Speaker Anita Among agreed and granted him extended time, acknowledging that the people of Kawempe North had been deprived of adequate representation for a long period.
“When the House resumes, we will give you space. Because truth be told, they've not been represented for some time because of Ssegirinya’s illness. Welcome to the 11th Parliament.”
Speaker Among also defended the decision to have Mr Nalukoola take oath in the Speaker’s Chambers .
“Please take note that subscribing to the oath of allegiance and oath of Member of Parliament can either be in the chambers when the House is in session or it can be in the Speaker’s Chambers when the House is in recess. We wouldn’t want to deprive the good people of Kawempe representation because the House is on recess, and aware that we called off the House to allow committees handle the ministerial policy statements, we found it fit that we swear you in so that you are able to benefit from what you ought to benefit,” she said.
MP benefits
Additionally, she instructed the Clerk to Parliament to ensure Mr Nalukoola receives all the benefits entitled to an MP, including transportation.
“I will instruct that after this, you will provide the MP all his benefits, including a car, even if he is going to be here for only a short time,” she said.
The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Mr Joel Ssenyonyi, welcomed Mr Nalukoola to Parliament, recognising the challenges he had faced during the campaign.
“It has been a tough fight. On another day, we shall talk about the trials and tribulations you have been through to come here, but I do congratulate you, welcome to the House, it is tough on this end, but we are tough,” Mr Ssenyonyi said.
The seat of Kawempe-North fell vacant on January 9, following the death of Ssegirinya. A by-election was conducted on March 13 and Mr Nalukoola emerged the winner with more than 17,000 votes.
BACGROUND
The by-election The Kawempe North MP seat fell vacant on January 9 following the death of Muhammad Ssegirinya. A by-election was conducted on March 13, and Mr Erias Nalukoola emerged the winner with more than 17,000 votes.
