Museveni appoints Buzeki as new KCCA executive director
Hajat Sharifah Buzeki, the newly appointed KCCA Executive Director. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- With Kampala facing mounting challenges in urban management and service delivery, all eyes will now be on Ms Buzeki and Mr Kigenyi to steer KCCA toward a more efficient and accountable future.
President Museveni has appointed Ms Sharifah Buzeki as the new Executive Director, at Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) with Mr Benon Kigenyi named as her Deputy. The announcement was made by Mr Faruk Kirunda, the Deputy Press Secretary to the President, via X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.
"It's true that His Excellency @KagutaMuseveni has appointed a new Executive Director of @KCCAUG in the names of Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki, and Mr Benon Kigenyi as her Deputy. Their names have been forwarded to Public Service for formalization. When the process is completed, the Head of Public Service/Secretary to Cabinet will formally confirm the appointments," Mr Kirunda confirmed in his statement.
Ms Buzeki, a seasoned Human Resource Practitioner with extensive experience in both Local and Central Government settings, brings over 13 years of professional experience in human resource management, human resource audit, institution development, inspection and supervisory regimes, and performance management. She currently serves as the Commissioner for Human Resource Management (HRM) in the Ministry of Public Service (MOPS), where she leads the design and implementation of inspection programs and coordinates the pilot implementation of the Pearl of Africa Performance Scorecard. Her work supports Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and Local Governments (LGs) in documenting and applying service delivery standards, integrating Results-Oriented Management (ROM) and Outputs-Oriented Budgeting (OOB) into work processes, and developing and implementing Client Charters.
Ms Buzeki holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and Management, a Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences from the Islamic University in Uganda. She has also attended numerous skills-enhancing courses in areas such as Conflict Management, Leadership and Change Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Training of Trainers, and Facilitation skills.
Her appointment comes after the dismissal of former KCCA Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka and her Deputy, David Luyimbazi, following the tragic collapse of the Kiteezi landfill on August 10, which claimed the lives of over 30 people.
The incident raised serious concerns about the management of the landfill, with Kisaka, Luyimbazi, and former Director for Public Health, Daniel Okello, now facing charges of manslaughter and negligent acts.
In the interim, President Museveni had appointed Frank Rusa, the Legal Director at KCCA, as the acting Executive Director on September 26, following the removal of Kisaka and Luyimbazi. Rusa served in the role while the search for a permanent successor was underway.
KCCA leadership has faced intense scrutiny after the disaster, prompting the need for fresh leadership to restore public confidence and improve governance within the authority.
Buzeki’s appointment is seen as a breathe of fresh air, with many city dwellers hopeful for tangible change and improvements. However, some critics have overtime argued that the President's significant influence over the authority limits the power of the appointed heads, as they merely hold titles without substantial autonomy to enact change.
Mr Kigenyi, appointed as the Deputy Executive Director, will play a critical role in supporting Buzeki in the day-to-day management of the authority, with a focus on urban infrastructure, service delivery, and addressing the city's ongoing challenges.
Mr Benon Kigenyi. PHOTO | COURTESY
He has served as the Undersecretary at the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, Ministry of Local Government and Ministry of Public Service.
Kirunda congratulated both Buzeki and Kigenyi on their appointments, highlighting their qualifications and leadership potential. "Congratulations to Hajjat Buzeki and Mr Kigenyi for catching the eye of the Appointing Authority," he said.
The formalisation process for the appointments is underway, with the Head of Public Service and the Secretary to Cabinet expected to confirm the appointments once all procedural requirements are completed.
With Kampala facing mounting challenges in urban management and service delivery, all eyes will now be on Ms Buzeki and Mr Kigenyi to steer KCCA toward a more efficient and accountable future.
Stay updated by following our WhatsApp channel https://bit.ly/4aYJlp3
