The Kampala City and it’s local government structure is beaten to bits with the ideal of Ministry of Kampala. This with the appointed Beti Kamya. Kamya has her own tone and will-power. Therefore she has gone from the one of hardest critics of the regime, to getting appointed minister of Kampala. In the pay of Kampala, the are many actors. Some are entered through the ballots, like Councilors, Divisions Mayor and the Lord Mayor. Kamya sleeps bad just thinking about them, she has even problem with the vision of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) own leadership like the other appointed Director Jennifer Musisi.
It isn’t strange it creating fatigue for the Minister, she has to deal with the leadership of these Division Mayors who feels like extras in Kampala are: Kasirye Nganda (Makindye), Ronald Balimwezo (Nakawa), Joyce Ssebugwawo (Rubaga), Emmanuel Sserunjogi (Kawempe) and Charles Musoke Sserunjogi (Kampala Central). All of this kind folks has offices and jurisdiction in their divisions. As well, as meeting with the Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago. So there are handful of people to agree or disagree with. In part, the City has many hands as the KCCA and the elected leadership are two pieces in the same pond. Than, the Ministry that is fixated on top are supposed to overrule it. Even though the Local Government should have a budget and some control. Not just being a ceremonial affair of handouts and ass-kissing on Entebbe Road. There should be more to it than that.
So when Kamya, the Minister who is having a bad day or hard time settling in is saying this:
“Speaking on CBS FM morning talk show, parliament yaffe, which is moderated by Meddie Nsereko, Kamya said Musisi has lost direction. “Musisi has become a populist; you discuss something and then she rushes to leak it to the media. We meet every Monday; us the two ministers, the undersecretary, Musisi and her team. There is always an opportunity for her to ask anything she wants but when you bypass those channels and instead run to do your work from the media, then you’ve become a politician,” Kamya said. “That populism can’t take us anywhere; I don’t fight petty wars but what I don’t want is populism,” she added” (Lule, 2017).
Certainly, Kamya has gone tired of Musisi, surely like Musisi and former Minister Frank Tumwebaze went tired of Lukwago and impeached him. So they two could work alone and not have to deal with City Hall. Now one appointee wants to get rid of another. Strange that Presidential Advisor Singh Katongole hasn’t said anything. Since he should have the ears to ground and speak poetry at the State House. Surely, he might be busy with Mr. Mahogany at some party instead. What we do know is that Kamya, the minister wants to have all control and doesn’t want to have her decisions leaked to the media. I am sure that she thought she could clear the Park Yard market of Kampala without any fuzz. Kamya was so WRONG!
Maybe, Mr. Singh could have told her that, as the momentum of havoc upon poor traders doesn’t blink well. That isn’t populism, it is more that you honorable Kamya are a loyal crony of Museveni. Therefore, all your acts right now isn’t about justice or governance. More about control and you cannot handle that there are more hands taking decisions and making sure Kampala runs like it do. Clearly with all of those leaders, even Presidential Advisor and elected leadership. There are stirring troubles and strange it hasn’t been more. It is weird that the Division Mayors hasn’t been more outspoken and more direct about their issues. Since, Kamya likes to rule alone and have it all. But she is not alone in Kampala. She has to learn that, and that it isn’t only her words that are the final.
Be sure, she doesn’t want to hear that. If so, than there wouldn’t be a KCCA, City Hall, Division Posts and the Ministry running the same Kampala. Peace.
Reference:
Lule, Baker Batte – ‘Kamya, Musisi row at KCCA escalates’ (29.05.2017) link: http://www.observer.ug/news/headlines/53119-kamya-musisi-row-at-kcca-escalates.html
MinBane 