SPEECH BY HER WORSHIP THE DEPUTY LORD MAYOR AT THE INNUAGURATION OF THE FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN OF KAMPALA CAPITAL CITY AUTHORITY 2020 TO 2025.

The RT Hon Prime Minister,

The Minister for Kampala,

The Executive Secretaries,

The Speaker,

The Deputy Speaker,

Executive Director,

Mayors of Divisions,

Our Technical Staffs,

Invited Guests, 

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Warm Greetings from His Worship the Lord Mayor Ssalongo Erias Lukwago whom I represent here today.

Rt.Hon. Prime Minister Planning is a very important function in the life of any institution and am glad that we are setting out today to launch the Second Strategic Plan for Kampala.

The political leadership of Kampala who get their mandate from the people would want to associate with this strategic plan, for it's through such planning that we implement our promises. Let me highlight some of the important areas that we are focused on. 

*CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND RULE OF LAW.*

The KCCA leadership has a strong conviction that it’s only a vibrant and Democratic Institution, rather than dependence on individual whims, discretion or personal rule that will deliver a modern and functional City.

It’s therefore incumbent upon all of us to respect and implement the structural framework as stipulated in the KCCA Act with a central focus of leadership placed on the vital element of institutional governance, guided by the philosophy of a shared vision.

*PROPER PLANNING AND SUSTAINABLE TRANSFORMATION.*

We did recognize the fact that there is immense pressure on the Authority leadership and staff to make some quick fixes or urgent interventions to solve the dire state of affairs that was in the then Kampala.  

And there is still a very strong temptation to continue along that same path.

But you will all agree with me that sustainable transformation of Kampala into a 21st Century Capital City requires serious, holistic and comprehensive planning. 

I am glad that clear plans have been developed to achieve the above during this planning period and that they are all included in this strategic plan. 

*ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.*

The current legal regime governing KCCA creates a relatively good system of checks and balances, all intended to curtail excesses that we are all prone to. 

Part of our mandate as elected leaders is to play an oversight role and also consider audit reports in all sectors of the Authority.

Our leadership has not compromised this vital responsibility and is increasingly convinced beyond all shades of doubt that it’s only a strict compliance with this responsibility that will guarantee delivery of quality services, and value for money. This will, ultimately, engender the much desired transformation of Kampala. On this same Accountability and transparency agenda we are following up on the CCPAC report and we hope that basing on its recommendations, government will hold liable those that have looted and misappropriated tax payer’s money. 

*EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.*

KCCA as was then and today, is perceived as a brutal, coercive and oppressive law enforcement institution.

Yes, we must ensure compliance with our ordinances, ensure trade order, sanitation, hygiene and building standards, but that does not presuppose use of excessive force and brutality. we hope that while implementing this strategic we shall change this image. 

Studies have shown that the current approach has not worked, our law enforcement officers are tired of battering the downtrodden citizens of Kampala mainly women carrying mangoes and yellow bananas that occupy our markets and streets to fend for their families. In the same vain, the law enforcement officers might be silent but their equally tired of the retaliation from the vendors that have left them many times injured and bruised. 

Our leadership appeals to the Prime Minister and the attorney General to always take the ordinances given to them as a priority. For we don't intend to transfer forceful, sometimes illegal acts of some of our enforcement personnel into the implementation phase of this new strategic plan. We appeal to government and mainly the Attorney General to stop shelving ordinances sent to his office for they are a cure to these confrontations between the vendors and the law enforcement officers 

There is need for a Paradigm shift from the Authority being a mere Regulator to being enablers and facilitators of economic development of the City.

The Lord Mayor and the Authority commits to lay a firm foundation for the development of a functional capital city, which is accommodative and user friendly to all manner of people of whatever creed and background; a capital city that offers equal opportunities to the affluent and the needy, riff-raffs and the rich, youths, women, elderly and persons with disabilities.

*FRUGALITY AND PRIORITISATION IN THE BUDGETING PROCESSES*

The KCCA Act confers powers onto the Authority to make budgetary appropriations, which must be balanced. 

This has not been an easy task in view of the inadequate funding and given the enormous challenges before us.

The continued dependence of the Authority on imposition of exorbitant direct taxes on small businesses in the informal sector as a revenue source is untenable and inimical to sustainable development. The Central Government should earmark at least 4% of the National budget towards the transformation of Kampala.

Our leadership  will continue to strictly observe the basic tenets of frugality and prioritization in the pursuance and implementation of the transformation agenda, putting much emphasis on the blue print, infrastructural development, floods, mud and dust control, paving of roads and elimination of pot holes, solid waste management and recycling, improvement of housing conditions and sanitation (especially in slum areas), street lighting; and construction of common user facilities such as modern markets, parks, parking towers, public toilets, recreation facilities and green belts. All these, happily, are in the strategic plan. 

Rt. Hon Prime Minister while all the above which our leadership set out to do was adopted by the Authority and incorporated in the last Strategic plan it’s important that we take stock of what key deliverables we set out to achieve in the last planning period to avoid us engaging in mere ritual and reducing a key guiding instrument such as Strategic Plan to some cosmetic document. 

The theme of the First Strategic was laying foundation and indeed this was well thought out in view of the enormous challenges the City was faced with and institutional changes. However, we continue to face the challenges the first strategic plan tried to cure. For example;

*TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE*

Kampala has a Road Network of 2100km with only 608 Km. This means that what we have is a dusty and potholed city. Our new plan places emphasis on paving more kilometers of roads so as to deal with the dust on the roads and as well fasten transport in the city.  

*MARKETS*

Over the Planning Period Five (5) Modern Markets were to be constructed however only one was achieved with the Second at Busega incomplete.

*DRAINAGE*

The City floods each time it rains, over the Planning Period no Major Primary Drainage was constructed however Kampala Drainage Master Plan was developed and adopted, it requires 200 Billion Shillings for it to be implemented fully to solve the flooding challenge.

Nakamiro Drainage Channel was recently launched for Construction while construction of Nalukolongo Channel and the upgrading of Nakivubo Drainage Channel in to a modern canal befitting of a City is still pending.

Rt Hon.Prime Minister, overall am saddened to report that the Authority achieved only 30% of what was set out to be achieved in the last Strategic Plan.

I must thus reiterate that the Strategic Plan that we launch today must deliver the Vision we have for the City with Key specific deliverables.

Over the next Planning period the following Key specific deliverables should be given priority and achieved as a bare minimum.

*Creation of Work Spaces*

Five markets to be constructed one each year in the five Divisions of Kampala i.e. Nakawa Market, USAFI Market, Busega Market 

*Sports Facility*

Our Phillip Omondi Stadium Lugogo should be constructed in to a modern State of the art Stadium

*Lighting the city streets*

As per the developed Street Lighting Master Plan our city must be lit up in the next planning period

*Road Construction*

Over the next planning period we must continue constructing roads with the ultimate goal of ensuring that the entire 2100kms of the City road network is paved eventually.

*Drainage*

Over this Planning Period we should construct the the three Primary Drainages of Nalukolongo, Nakamiro and upgrade Nakivubo in to a modern canal.

We must also seek for funding to start the implementation of the 200 Billion Kampala Drainage Master Plan to resolve the flooding challenge in the City Once and for all.

*Recycling Plant*

We should construct a Recycling Plant at Dundu; this will not only ease the pressure on the dump site at Kitebi but will increase on the efficiency of managing Garbage in the City.

Finally, Rt Hon. Prime we must Develop and Promote Kampala as a Hub for Investment and Tourism.

With its rich cultural heritage, beautiful landscape with hills overlooking a huge fresh water body of Lake Victoria, tropical climate and soils, hospitable and cultured people Kampala surely must be developed as a beach City as recommended by the Consultants from Isreal and not just another sprawling Metropolis.

Kampala has got a huge potential for a tourist hub and genuine investors. 

The Authority led by the Lord Mayor therefore will make deliberate policies towards the preservation, development and promotion of our heritage, cultural sites, recreation facilities, museums, monuments, artifacts, public libraries and sporting activities.

We are currently exploring re-designing the KCCA Emblem, with the image of an Impala engraved thereon, as a symbol of our cherished heritage to reflect that crucial aspect of our history. 

Lastly Rt.Hon. Prime Minister, while we seek to implement this strategic plan and improve the wellbeing of our people and the status of our Capital City, it would be in vain if we did not as well fight to ensure that the fundamental rights of our people are restored and guaranteed by the State. The rights to political association, civic freedoms and free and fair political processes help to underwrite the achievements that we intend to make. The continuous erosion of these rights must therefore be fought by all right thinking Ugandans up to the point when they are fully attained.

If this happens during this five-year period, we shall be sure that this strategic plan will be more fruitful than the previous one.

GOD BLESS KCCA; 

GOD BLESS THE PEOPLE OF KAMPALA

FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY.

*Nyanjura Doreen*

*Deputy LORD MAYOR*