After 20 years, Muslim leadership at Kampala City Hall comes to an end

By Sarah Nalule

For 20 years since 2006, Muslims have dominated the politics at City Hall, the administrative seat of Kampala city. That dominance ended on May 11, as Erias Lukwago vacated the Lord Mayor’s parlour to pave way for Ronald Balimwezo’s entry.

Lukwago succeeded the late Al-Hajji Nasser Ntege Ssebaggala, who was Kampala mayor from 2006 to 2011. With the enactment of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Act in 2011, Lukwago became the city’s first Lord Mayor, holding it for 15 years.

Lukwago credited Allah for sustaining him through over a decade of political battles, institutional wrangles and governance conflicts as he formally handed over instruments of power to Sharifah Buzeki, the Executive Director at the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).

In a lengthy farewell speech delivered on Monday, Lukwago described his leadership journey as one of the most difficult political experiences in Kampala’s modern history, saying he survived numerous attempts to frustrate and weaken his administration because of faith, resilience and commitment to defending ordinary residents.

“It is by the grace of Allah that I survived many battles during my stewardship at City Hall,” Lukwago said.

The outgoing mayor reflected on what he called a turbulent but principled 15-year reign characterised by endless clashes with central government officials, conflicts over the management of public assets and disputes arising from the governance structure created under the Kampala Capital City Authority Act.

“It has not been a walk in the park. Out of all the mayors who have led Kampala since its inception, I may have had the most tumultuous tenure,” he said.

Lukwago first entered City Hall politics in 2006 as Kampala Central Member of Parliament before becoming the pioneer Lord Mayor.

During his farewell remarks, he defended his legacy, saying his leadership was guided by the philosophy of shared vision, shared prosperity and rule of law.

“My city stewardship remained unwaveringly intentional in pursuing a seismic shift in leadership anchored on accountability, equity, social justice and proper urban governance,” he said.

THE SIX PRINCIPALS

Lukwago said his administration focused on six major pillars, including corporate governance, transparency, proper planning, social justice, prudent budgeting and promoting Kampala as a business and tourism destination.

However, he argued that most of his efforts were frustrated by political interference and overlapping mandates between elected leaders and technocrats within KCCA.

“The governance of Kampala has regrettably witnessed direct control and intervention by the President in almost all sectors,” Lukwago said.

According to him, presidential directives and excessive involvement by central government weakened the authority of elected city leaders and rendered council oversight ineffective.

He noted that the contradictions within the KCCA structure created tension between political leaders and technical staff, ultimately affecting service delivery.

The veteran city lawyer also raised concerns about corruption within local government institutions, accusing powerful cartels of frustrating accountability mechanisms in Kampala.

He referred to Inspector General of Government reports that ranked local governments among the most corruption-prone public institutions in the country.

“Despite rampant allegations of abuse of office, embezzlement and corruption within KCCA, very few individuals have been prosecuted successfully. Perpetrators often benefit from strong state protection and patronage from systemic cartels,” he said.

The outgoing mayor said corruption had slowed Kampala’s transformation agenda and contributed to poor infrastructure, poor waste management and the continued collapse of public services.

OBSTACLES

He further used his farewell speech to defend his administration’s handling of informal traders, boda boda riders and taxi operators, insisting that city law enforcement should be implemented with “a human face.”

“Trade order is not a function of brutality,” Lukwago said.

He criticised security operations that targeted street vendors and informal workers, arguing that the urban poor had been treated unfairly instead of being supported to transition into the formal economy.

“It is inimical to genuine development for the institution to continue unleashing terror against street vendors, boda boda riders and taxi operators instead of organising them according to existing laws and providing alternative facilities,” he said.

Lukwago described informality as one of Kampala’s biggest challenges, noting that more than 70 percent of the city’s labour force survives in the informal sector.

According to him, lack of organised workspaces, unemployment and poverty have pushed thousands of people into street vending and unregulated businesses.

He added that rapid urbanisation had worsened pressure on housing, transport and sanitation infrastructure.

“More than half of Kampala’s population lives in informal settlements and slums characterised by poor sanitation, inadequate infrastructure and overcrowding,” he said.

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS

As he handed over office, Lukwago outlined what he described as a roadmap for Kampala’s future leadership.

He called for amendment of the KCCA Act to streamline governance structures and restore authority to elected leaders.

He also advocated increased funding for Kampala, expansion of road and drainage infrastructure, improved healthcare facilities, better street lighting and stronger urban planning systems.

“For KCCA to achieve the goal of revitalising Kampala into a well-functioning, resilient and inclusive city, there must be bold reforms,” he said.

Lukwago urged the incoming administration to prioritise service delivery, transparency and protection of vulnerable urban residents.