Frank Tumwebaze clarifies on Kampala mayoral seat election

The Minister in charge of the Presidency and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Frank K. Tumwebaze has clarified that KCCA is not proposing to remove election of the lord mayor of Kampala and that it’s only the mode of election being proposed to change.

Frank Tumwebaze (C) has clarified on the propased changes on the Kampala mayoral election

Frank who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Kibaale County is Kamwenge district made the clarification through his social media pages.

“A journalist called me this afternoon asking me why we are proposing to remove the election of lord mayor for Kampala. That is already a misrepresentation.

Clarification is below; “The election of The Lord Mayor is not removed. It’s only the mode of election being proposed to change. Currently The Lord Mayor according to the KCCA act of 2010, acts as the speaker of the council. He convenes and chairs council which an lc5 chairman of a district does not. Unlike in a district The Lord Mayor doesn’t form a government with an executive committee just like it is in a local government or district. He is the head and therefore speaker of council. So being the speaker he/ she has to be elected by the council and remain accountable to the council just like it is for speaker of parliament. It was these fusion of roles that made governance a bit cumbersome”, Frank posted.

Government has drafted a Bill which seeks to amend the KCCA Act to provide for the election of Kampala Lord Mayor among the councillors. T

he Kampala Capital City Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2015, also seeks strengthen the authority of the central government in the administration of the city by giving more powers to the minister for Kampala to be the political head of the city and the Lord Mayor only remains with legislative powers.

The current KCCA vests power in the Lord Mayor to be the political head of the city. The Bill also seeks to create an expanded Metropolitan Kampala city which includes the neighbouring districts of Mukono, Wakiso, and Mpigi.

The Bill will be tabled to Parliament by Minister for Kampala Hon. Frank Tumwebaze.