There are no smuggled provisions in KCCA Amendment Act- Amongi

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Kampala Minister, Betty Amongi has dismissed claims that some clauses were smuggled into the Kampala Capital City Authority-KCCA Amendment Act after its approval by parliament.

In August 2019, Parliament passed the KCCA amendment bill.  It was assented to by the President in November and gazzetted in January 2020. Last month, the Shadow Minister for Kampala, Betty Nambooze petitioned the speaker of Parliament, claiming that the law bares provisions that were never approved by parliament.

She cited the Metropolitan Physical Planning Authority which will be headed by the Minister and the Metropolitan Police specifically under KCCA. A section of councilors and the KCCA Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago also sought the intervention of the speaker on the concerns raised by Nambooze.

The Kampala Minister, Betty Amongi, says the Act gives her ministry powers to coordinate planning activities with other Ministries like that of Works and transport, Ministry of Lands and that of Local Government but not to plan for Kampala as people seem to understand it.

Amongi says she was part of a subcommittee of Parliament that discussed the issue before it was addressed in plenary. She say that some members of Parliament had raised concern, saying there was no need to have KCCA plan independently when there are ministries doing so.

Amongi also added that KCCA will continue implementing the ammended Act. The Authority has been holding workshops sensitizing management and the political leadership of KCCA on the act amidst resistance from some political leaders who declined to shun the sessions demanding the clauses be dropped. Amongi says that no one can stop the implementation of the law already gazzetted, saying those with concern should raise them in courts of law.

Amongi says they are now planning to hold the elections of the Speaker and deputy speaker who are provided for in the amended act to chair council meetings at City Hall. This will also see the election of speakers for the five divisions of Kampala. Peter Kaujju, the KCCA Spokesperson, says that they have been advised by the Attorney General that no council sitting should take place until speakers are elected to execute their mandate.

KCCA needs about Shillings 8 billion to implement the amendments. KCCA has since submitted a supplementary budget for the monies, which is yet to be approved.

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