By George Bukenya
Kampala Capital City Authority Council at loggerhead with the technical wing over Kiteezi report that has been taken to Parliament and to the Office of the President.
Zahala Luyirika Speaker to council boiled while presiding over the council meeting on Tuesday 10, 2024 when she asked the Deputy Executive Director of the Authority Eng. David Luyimbazi to present the Kiteezi report to council which he declined.
“To our dismay the City Executive Committee headed by the Deputy Lord Mayor came to attend council meeting without a report on Solid Waste management yet it was the main point on our agenda.’’ Speaker Luyirika said in a tough tone.
“ We are the supreme organ of the City Authority any leadership wing here is answerable to the council , I am now wondering why the Lord Mayor took the report and handed it over cabinet through the Prime Minister.’’ She said.
She further said, “ all along we have been yearning to have our power and exercise our mandate as leaders of the Authority I am now astonished to see the Lord Mayor taking the Solid Waste Management report to the Cabinet instead of bring to council for debating and consideration. One wonders whether now Lukwago is working for NRM.’’
However, the Lord Mayor and his Deputy Doreen Nyanjura were not available for a comment on the matter, the duo having been engaged in a closed door meeting at KCCA.
Eng. Luyimbazi told council that he wasn’t ready with the report and requested to be given two days to organize and present a comprehensive report which most of the councilors who stood to speak rejected.
He said that he hasn’t been in the country and had a lot of work on his desk due to the absence of his boss Kisaka work piled leaving with him very limited time therefor he needed at least some ample time to prepare the report.
‘’ I will prepare the Kiteezi report and present to council as asked but as Executive we are not obliged to do so. We are requiring to prepare reports and present to the Authorities Executive headed by the Lord Mayor which is mandated to present it to council for discussion.’’ Eng. Luyimbazi stated.
He also revealed that the procurement exercise for the land where they will begin taking garbage collected for the city is ongoing and among the requirements land should be more than 100 acres, not more than 30 miles away from Kampala and also free of scoters.
He said that the land that the Authority had secured in Mukono-Dundu is similar to that of Kiteezi in that is located where there are residents near therefore it’s not ideal with purpose of avoid the Kiteezi like tragedy from occurring again.
Although the Executive team was supposed also to attend the meeting and present the report, despite efforts made by the speaker to have Mayor or his Deputy or even any head of directorate, they declined.