Opinion: Lord Mayor Lukwago is cornered [and that’s the plan after all]

The ones whose thinking Lord Mayor of Kampala, Erias Lukwago has an easy road. He doesn’t, as he has the City Hall. Where he reside and supposed to be the leader of the elected leadership together with Local Councillors and the 5 Division Mayors. However, that isn’t everything the Lord Mayor have to toy around to get things done.

The Mayor has the major challenger Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director Andrew Mubiru Kitaka. Whose been given a mandate and was made to be in the way of the elected leadership, as the NRM couldn’t achieve majority in the Capital.

To ensure more havoc and chaos, the President has appointed Minister for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs Beti Amogin and State Minister for KCCA Benna Namugwanya. This makes a lot of chefs already blended in the mix.

Then you have the likes of Cathrine Kusasira, whose appointed Presidential Advisor for Kampala Affairs. Together with Mark Bugembe aka Butchaman as Presidential Advisor on the Ghetto Affairs and Jennifer Nakanguubi aka Full Figure the Presidential Advisor on Youth and Artists. All of these are sort of involved in matters in Kampala. As Kusasira is directly under the Ministry of Kampala. While Butchaman has a indirect role and the same with Full Figure with her office in Katwe. Not like they are not making the picture of people less stressing.

There is always the stress between KCCA and Lord Mayor. The mandates and the roles of the Executive Committee and so fourth. There is mix of the appointed leadership, the Ministers and the Presidential Advisors. All putting the fingers in the pot and there is so many chefs, which only create a bad stew. The flavours will be off and the meat will burned. Nothing to enjoy and just pure maladministration.

It seems like this is the idea of the President who has made this system. He has ensured the capital to be run like a mad-house. Where the Lord Mayor complains about the lack of leadership and co-operation. This is yet another term where the mayor has nothing to show for. Neither has the KCCA or the Executives there. The previous one could shuffle enough snow to make big show.

Lukwago doesn’t look smart. He looks bewildered and its not weird. Lord Mayor isn’t able to play, the cards are stacked against him. This is what the state wants, as they want the opposition to suffer her. They don’t want the opposition to have a viable candidate and they can ensure people get distrust in Lukwago.

However, that isn’t his faults. Not that his proven other levels, than resilience and character. No one is helping him succeed. No one is ensuring the lawyer to victor anywhere. The only thing happening is that his not allowed to operate in office. That is why he was impeached last term and was evicted from office. That didn’t happen now, but its not like the KCCA or the Ministry have given him any way. While the Division Mayors is also wanting more power.

It is a struggle for political power and its created not to better the city, but to swallow the opposition leadership of it. So, that the people get tired of the malfunction and puts in one of the President’s puppets instead. Peace.

Opinion: Kusasira needed two weeks and she’s now the Queen of Kampala

“The position I have is more superior whether they want it or not. They have to formally write to me if they want me to meet them. To be a senior presidential advisor, it means I’m above them. They have to request me to go meet them to see how we can develop Kampala” – Catherine Kusasira (on the 9th November 2019).

It is 14 days since Catherine Kusasira was appointed as Presidential Advisor on Kampala Affairs. Already after two weeks she is now senior. Surely, that has to be explained to the 169 others who has the same capacity in the Republic. Three of them was appointed at the same time or in the same time. This being her, Jennifer Full Figure and Butchaman. These are all Presidential Advisors with new official cars.

Surely, the power goes to the brain of the public. She now thinks she’s so special and unique. That is just the way she is. Now, because of her role, she thinks she’s higher than the elected officials, the ones whose elected to represent the public. That she a bureaucrat and appointed leader are bigger than the Lord Mayors, the MPs and whoever else. That is the words she has.

A friendly reminder, when she was appointed:

“President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has officially appointed local Artiste Catherine Kusasira as presidential advisor on Kampala Affairs. Under this role, Catherine Kusasira will be charge of coordinating the young NRM recruits in the slum dwellings” (NBS Television, 26.10.2019).

It is not like Kusasira have done anything. Not that Catherine have a big name or proven her abilities to anyone. She has not even coloured her office or dirt on the wheels of the 4 Wheel Drive she gotten. Therefore, that she thinks so highly of herself is a bit far-fetched.

She should humble herself a bit. She only has it, because the President needs a few Ghetto passes and have some friendly faces from the ghetto. Catherine has a long way ahead. She can try to pull this stunt on Erias Lukwago, the KCCA Director or the Kampala MPs, but they will stop her. They will not accept this. She’s not bigger than the Minister of Kampala Beti Kamya and Lord Mayor Lukwago will also stand his ground. That’s why she’s crossing a dangerous path by doing this.

Kusasira better drop the act, she’s not a queen nor a super-high ranking official. She’s just another one of the needed stooges of the 170 Presidential Advisors. They are not that important. That’s why most of them are obscure and only fetching salaries. Therefore, she will soon be one of them.

Catherine should take it easy. Your not that grand nor great. You haven’t done anything to earns people respect. They didn’t even vote for you. Your not that special. You have been appointed a Presidential Advisor, one out 170. Kusasira, relax, your not a Queen, even Sheeba is more Royal than you ever will be. Peace.

Opinion: Too many cooks in Kampala…

The political landscape and the appointed leadership of Kampala is hectic. That is too be very frank. As someone who has seen this evolve over time. The amount leaders are staggering. Both with leaders in Wards, Divisions and district mayors combined with the City Hall. However, there is also the Kampala Capital City Authority too. So, there are so many heads and so little fish to fry.

Now, today there is reports from NBS Television about this:

“President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has officially appointed local Artiste Catherine Kusasira as presidential advisor on Kampala Affairs. Under this role, Catherine Kusasira will be charge of coordinating the young NRM recruits in the slum dwellings. Another local artist Mark Bugembe known by his stage name Buchaman was considered for the position of presidential envoy on Ghetto affairs” (NBS Television, 26.10.2019).

All of this is happening because of Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine and his support by youths and ghettos in- and around Kampala. However, doesn’t the President know how many people he have around him involved in the political landscape in the capital already?

First start with KCCA Executive Director Jamil Ssenyonjo, his just been there since January 2019. So, in the span of things his still fresh. You have also Ministry of Kampala and the State Minister Beti Kamya. Than, you have the elected Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and lastly by not least, Presidential Advisor for Kampala Singh Katangole. Not to forget the seven MPs representing the city at the Parliament too. Therefore, there is not a lack of cooks, but maybe lack of prep to make it fine-dining.

Since, now the President is adding a sixth and possible seventh avenue of leadership and roles attached to Kampala. This being the Presidential Advisor on Kampala Affairs, Cathrine Kusasira. By my count, which might be off, she would be the 164 Presidential Advisor, the President has appointed and if Bugembe gets appointed it would be 165 of them. But that is just the tally at the State House.

What is more vital is that Kampala will have at least one more person in the central leadership keeping posted and involving itself in direct operations. That is what the Kusasira will most likely do. In whatever capacity and together with Ssenyonjo and Kamya, even pop-by Lukwago.

One dude that should be hurt by this is Katangole, who has maybe to young starlets taking his spot. They are watering down his efforts or whatever his doing at his day-job. Because, they will fight with him and stand-by the President as newly appointed leaders. Surely, that must hurt the old man and his cause. Whatever that might be, because its not like Mr. Katangole has made anything relevant for months.

What we do see, is that the President prepares for 2021 and acts swiftly with appointing people like this. If Bobi Wine was a fisherman, he would have fetched one them fisherman at Lake Victoria. However, his an artist and therefore, the remedy is another artist.

Well, he must really think the idle and disorderly of Kampala is ignorant and stupid. When he thinks this trick will change their minds about his rule. This isn’t the way, because they are tired of his ways. Putting Bebe Cool at a Ministry wouldn’t make a difference either. Only show how his trying populism and thinking he can counter the uprising with decoys. But that is what this looks like.

This is just another crony and another cook in the midst of things in Kampala. Oh Golly, let see how this goes. Peace.