OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
KAWEMPE DIVISION URBAN COUNCIL
29/06/2021
Ref: M\KDUC\KCCA\21
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KAWEMPE DIVISION MAYOR PRESS BRIEFING ON LAW ENFORCEMENT REFORMS AND DEVOLUTION OF POWERS FROM KCCA TO URBAN DIVISIONS.
Members of the press, the people of Kawempe Division, fellow countrymen and women, warm greetings and most welcome to the Kawempe Mayor’s maiden press brief.
The purpose of this press briefing is to communicate to the people of Kawempe about the high-handedness of law enforcement officers and devolution of powers and the functions from KCCA to urban Divisions.
- Protecting the people of Kawempe from Covid-19 and its effects.
Kawempe Division, as is the rest of Kampala, is among the most affected parts of Uganda by the deadly Covid-19 pandemic. A number of families have lost their loved ones to this heinous disease, and many continue to be hospitalized. Since early 2020, Covid-19 has greatly affected trade and commerce and way of life of every Kawempian with many losing their only source of livelihood. A second and even deadlier wave of Covid-19 has hit across the entire country thereby exacerbating the public health and economic situation in country but in particular in Kawempe Division. Note that we are simply still spared by only the Grace of God because this is flue in a modified form.
This is therefore, a clarion call to all Kawempians to strengthen their observance of Covid-19 Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) as established by the Ministry of Health, most especially Washing hands regularly, Masking Up, avoiding touching mouth, eyes, and mouth and ensuring social distance at all times.
I also call upon the central government to move fast and implement a comprehensive Covid-19 recovery program. For the first time, the government of Mr. Museveni should put in some heart in the business of shielding the people of Kawempe and Ugandans at large from the shackles of Covid-19 especially the long-marginalized groups in ghettos, street vendors, hawkers and other vulnerable groups that have been worst hit by the pandemic.
In the same spirit, I would like to remind the former Deputy RCC Kawempe Division (now RCC Kampala) Mr. Huddu Hussein to submit the Kawempe Division Covid-19 Task Force and Emyoga Seed Funding reports in with the Kawempe Urban Council resolution number 1A/KDUC.5/1/2021.5.8.
The people of Kawempe are among the biggest contributors to the consolidated Fund in tax revenue, and as such it is important to ensure that at all times, we account to them on how their hard-earned monies are spent by government officials.
- Enactment of a by-law to provide for the regulation of KCCA law enforcement officers operating in Kawempe Urban Division.
Since its establishment during the tenure of the now-defunct Kampala City Council (KCC), the KCCA law enforcement Unit continues to operate without a proper regulatory framework to govern the establishment, recruitment, remuneration, and discipline of the law enforcement officers. As such, the law enforcement officers have continued to harass, loot, and exploit the people of Kawempe especially street traders, hawkers and others. Most of the affected people are vulnerable Kawempians who depend on street vending and hawking for a livelihood. This class of people form part of the long-standing marginalized workers in Kampala that have been neglected by most central government programs including government support during the country’s COVID-19 pandemic.
Most of the law enforcement officers are ill-trained and ignorant of the relevant ordinances and bylaws they claim to enforce. Their operations are characterised by use of brute force, harassment, soliciting for bribes, impounding and sharing merchandise of the street vendors and general abuse of human rights.
Whereas, the KCCA leadership acknowledges the plight of these people, it has failed to pass The Kampala Capital City (Regulation of Street Trade), and Regulation of Law Enforcement bills which would otherwise have helped streamline issues of street trade, and law enforcement in Kampala. This leadership failure continues to expose ordinary Kawempians and other Ugandans that carry out trade in Kawempe Division to illegal and unprofessional law enforcers without any redress.
The harsh effects of Covid-19 compel us as representatives of the people in various capacities to act with urgency to enact laws and implement policies that make the city more livable, safe, and inclusive for all most especially the vulnerable groups of people.
As the Mayor of the people of Kawempe, my first business in council, after approval of my executive committee, will be the introduction of a number of bills to; provide for street vending and hawking, and regulate the conduct of law enforcement in Kawempe Division among others. This will help to professionalize the law enforcement unit and protect and promote trade and commerce in Kawempe especially by ordinary Kawempians. We must streamline and organize every worker, including street vendors, hawkers, and other informal workers to work and enjoy living in Kawempe instead of harassing and exploiting them. The city belongs to all the people!
- Devolution of Powers and Functions from Kampala Capital City Authority to Urban Divisions.
Article 176 of the 1995 Uganda Constitution (as amended) provides for a system of local government where functions, powers and responsibilities are devolved from KCCA to urban Divisions to ensure peoples’ participation and democratic control in decision making.
For about a century now, KCCA top leadership has unconstitutionally and illegally continued to exercise powers and functions that the law placed in the ambit of urban Divisions. For example, the physical planning act, 2010 provides for a local physical planning committee to be established in every Division of Kampala Capital City. However, KCCA leadership has refused to devolve this and many other powers and functions to Divisions as envisioned by the relevant laws.
This has not only curtailed proper local planning and quality service delivery to the people of Kawempe and Kampala at large but also propagated misappropriation and inefficiencies in allocation of the tax payer’s money.
As Mayor, Kawempe Urban Division, I will mobilize the other mayors of the Divisions of Kampala and other key stake holders to undertake a series of actions to ensure orderly devolution of powers, functions and responsibilities as envisioned by various relevant laws. Among the various courses of action are; petition KCCA council, court action, and if need be, taking the matter to the people of Kampala to decide how they would like to be governed.
For God and My Country
