Norbert Mao, the president of the Democratic Party has intervened in the Kampala Capital City Authority controversy over the election of the deputy lord mayor.
Sulaiman Kidandala was on December 13th sworn in as Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago’s deputy, but Jennifer Musisi Ssemakula, the KCCA executive director responded by issuing a statement that Kidandala was not duly approved by the authority as per section 9(3) of KCCA Act 2010.
On Monday morning, Norbert Mao visited KCCA City Hall offices and held a closed meeting with Jennifer Musisi, to iron out the differences surrounding the office of the deputy lord mayor.
Speaking to reporters shortly after the meeting, Mao said that the controversy surrounding the office of the deputy lord mayor is an internal matter that has to be solved internally.
Mao said it has been disappointing for Sulaiman Kidandala to be labeled as a person of bad character by being placed in newspaper announcements. Kidandala is a member of the Democratic Party.
Mao, who boasted of being one of the best negotiators in the country, said he is ready to play a role in engaging all the parties at City Hall to come up with a solution.
He said during the war in northern Uganda, he managed to sweet-talk Joseph Kony, the Lord’s Resistance Army leader to engage in peaceful negations with government for the noble cause of bringing about peace in the country.
He said he can use the same techniques to bring Jennifer Musisi, Erias Lukwago and the councilors on a negotiating table.
Peter Kaujju, the KCCA public communications officer declined to comment on the matter, but Godfrey Asiimwe, the councilor representing Lubaga welcomed any move to bring all the parties to talking terms, adding that the leaders need to start minding about development other than misunderstandings.
Assimwe, a member of the National Resistance Movement, described the move by Norbert Mao as healthy.
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Since October, Lukwago has received strong opposition from the NRM inclined councilors in the authority, who accuse him of undermining their strength and numbers in appointing his deputy.
