Felix Osike
16 December 2007
Kampala — THE Cabinet has made a master plan for the development of Kampala city. According to a Cabinet memorandum seen by The New Vision, Kampala will have a metropolitan planning authority and an executive director appointed by the President.
The metropolitan authority will plan and oversee the execution of the development of the city. The chief executive will manage the city and be the accounting officer.
The mayor will remain the political head of district. He or she will preside over all council meetings and perform ceremonial and civic functions. The draft Bill will spell out the functions of the city council and its management at various levels.
It will also allow the election of council members, and demarcate the new city boundaries.
The Constitution allows the Central Government to administer Kampala city. Currently, Kampala is both a city and a district.
New boundaries
The Cabinet proposes that Mengo municipality be created in response to the demands of Buganda Kingdom.
The proposed municipality will include the important cultural sites of Buganda, which are located in the city. These are Bulange, the Kasubi Tombs and the Kabaka's palace.
Most of the cultural sites are in Rubaga Division, except the Katikkiro's residence (Butikkiro) and Kabaka's palace which are in Central division.
"If Rubaga Division becomes a municipality and part of Wakiso district, the current boundaries of Wakiso district will have to change," said the memorandum.
"In view of the importance of the Entebbe-Kampala corridor as an entry into Kampala, there is need to have a controlled planning and development in this area."
It is proposed that the sub-county of Makindye - Sabagabo and Kira Town Council in Wakiso district be made part of Kampala city. Makindye-Sabagabo sub-county covers the parishes of Massaja, Ndejje, Busabala, Bunamwaya, Lubowa and Seguku. "These areas are very close to city and should be allowed to develop into slums."
The new boundaries of Kampala city will cover Kampala Central, Nakawa, Kawempe, Makindye, Kira town council and Makindye-Sabagabo sub-county
President Museveni's views
President Yoweri Museveni has advised that the new law to govern Kampala city should not deprive city dwellers of the right to vote.
The President also suggested that there should be a strong executive director with powers not to implement decisions of the Council which violate the law, government policy and public interest. Such a person he advised should have a Masters degree in engineering or architecture and a diploma in administration. The President also advised that KCC should be given more resources to enable it handle development challenges.
KCC structure
It is proposed that the composition of the City Council shall not exceed 30 members. It will consist of directly elected councillors, special interests group such as women, youth, persons with disabilities and elderly.
The mayor, the deputy mayor, chairpersons and vice chairpersons of divisions will be elected from amongst the councillors according to the proposals. However all city and division councillors shall be elected by universal adult suffrage and by secret ballot.
Professional bodies and ministries whose work and functions are relevant to KCC work will be represented as ex-officio members but without the right to vote.
Role of City Mayor
The Kampala mayor will remain the political head of district, preside over all council meetings and perform ceremonial functions and civic functions.
He will also host foreign and local dignitaries and monitor the general administration of the Authority among other duties.
The mayor may be removed from office by a resolution of the council supported by a simple majority or by a minister responsible for local governments with the approval of cabinet over abuse of office, incompetence, misconduct or misbehaviour, physical or metal incapacity or failure to convene council meetings.
It is recommended that to reduce the administration costs, the office of Council Speaker should be abolished because he/she does not have enough work.
Chief Executive Officer
The president shall on the advice of the Public Service Commission appoint the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to manage the city and be the accounting officer.
The CEO shall be answerable to the local government minister and responsible for implementation of lawful council decisions, presentation of annual budget to the Council, advising the mayor and council on government policy, overseeing delivery of quality services to the population within the city.
He or she will also have powers over physical planning, infrastructure development, transport systems, land management including allocation of land, road construction and revenue collection and management.
The CEO shall take decisions in consultation with the mayor when the council is in recess. According to the proposals, the executive director shall have powers to stop implementation of a decision of council where a council takes a decision which is contrary to the law, policy and public interest and report the matter to the minister.
The minister on receipt of the report may vary or rescind the decision of KCC with the approval of Cabinet.
There shall also be a deputy executive Director, Heads of Department and Assistant Executive Directors all appointed by the Public Service Commission.
Appointment of other staff
Since Kampala will no longer be a district, it is proposed that the district service commission be abolished. The Kampala city appointments board will replace it with a task of appointing staff in the city council with the exception of the executive director, deputy director, heads of department and assistant executive directors in charge of city divisions. The council divisions shall be managed by assistant executive directors and wards by wards administrators.
KCC structure
Under the proposed arrangement, KCC and the city division councils will not have executive committees. This is aimed at reducing the high administration cost in favour of service delivery. The city council and the division councils shall, however, have such standing committees.
They will comprise elected councillors and appointed ex-officials of the council as the council may deem necessary in consultation with the central government.
Street committees
To give effect to the constitutional principle of decentralising functions and responsibilities to the KCC lower units, the new law will be based on the city council, division council, ward council, village council and street committee
The city council will among other things determine taxation levels, monitor general administration and provision of services in the divisions.
They will also promote economic development of the city.
Other functions will be to maintain and construct roads other than those reserved for the Central Government, construct and maintain major drains, install and maintain street lights. They will also be responsible for traffic management, physical planning and development control.
The city divisions and the wards will collect and dispose garbage and manage solid waste, maintain and improve open spaces and road verges, vector, rodent and vermin control services, establish and maintain recreational facilities, playgrounds leisure parks and other amenities. They will also provide primary education and health care. Besides that, they will have control over markets, revenue collection, law enforcement, law enforcement and road sweeping and de-silting and administration of local justice.
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