Kampala City Council is up in arms against a central government proposal to take over management of the city.

The government proposal entails appointment of an Executive Director to take charge of the day-to-day running of the city, leaving the mayor as a ceremonial figure.

Kampala residents agree that the city has been a shambles for a very long time: Pot-holed roads, uncollected garbage, poor sanitation, endless traffic jams, no traffic lights, no street lights, dust, unplanned development - the list is of the city's woes is endless.

The central government blames KCC for this state of affairs. Although the city has been run by the opposition over the last couple of years, one gets a sense this blame is not entirely in good faith.

The city was in a mess even under NRM mayor Christopher Iga! It is also a fact that the city administration has not been adequately funded. However, there is evidence to suggest that even the little resources available are often misused through corruption and sheer incompetence.

With the city getting a facelift in preparation for CHOGM, Kampalans noticed that the central government is capable of taking good care of the city if it wants to.

The Mayor, Nasser Ntege Sebaggala, and Kampala Central MP Erias Lukwago argue that the government is simply seizing political control of a stubborn opposition area.

This charge might hold some water, but having seen mayor after mayor failing to improve the city, what an average Kampalan cares about is not who is in charge, but whether he or she finds it a good place to live and work.

In any case, KCC has, through corruption and incompetence, given the central government a good excuse to take over the city.

As expected, KCC officials are opposed to the new proposal. There were even reports that a lot of money is to be spent on this campaign.

Our view is that it is not worth it. Kampala needs change and that change can only be achieved through accountable administration. The current city administration structure does not permit accountability and good service delivery. Moreover, being an elected politician, the mayor is encumbered by the need to reward his supporters with jobs and contracts; and this stands in the way of service delivery.