Uganda Young Democrats have given Jennifer Musisi, Kampala Capital City Authority Executive Director, a two weeks ultimatum to retract notices she placed in the newspapers against the deputy lord mayor Sulaiman Kidandala. Brenda Nabukenya, Luweero Woman MP says that Musisi has until January 03, 2012 to retract the notices she placed in government owned New Vision on Thursday last week asking members of the public to disregard Kidandala.
The notice on Page 35 informs the public that Sulaiman Kidandala was appointed by the Lord Mayor Elias Lukwago without approval by the Authority as is provided for in Section 8 (3) of the Kampala Capital City Act 2010. It adds that any actions or representatives by him as Deputy Lord Mayor are not representative of the KCCA. Nabukenya says the notice is tainting Kidandala’s image and wants Musisi to retract it.
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Kidandali vehemently defends his appointment saying that Nakawa Chief Magistrate Charles Serubuga did not swear him in as a magistrate but as a commissioner for oaths. He argues that there is no prohibition on the area of jurisdiction as stated by Erias Kisawuzi the judiciary spokesperson.
Kisawuzi on Tuesday distanced the judiciary from the swearing of Kidandala saying that Serubuga didn’t seek permission from the chief justice since he was operating outside his area of jurisdiction. Kidandali says if Kisawuzi cancels his swearing in, this means even the commissioner who swore in Lukwago and other councilors did so outside their area of jurisdiction.
He adds that Magistrate Serubuga was contacted by the Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki through the registrar to annul Kidandali’s swearing in. However, Magistrate Serubuga demanded that they put the request in writing which was not done. According to Kidandali the move by Justice Odoki and Kisawuzi are political and not provided for in the law.
KCCA spokesperson Peter Kauju says their position is clear; the ceremony did not follow the right procedures. He adds that the Executive Director will not retract her statements nor the notice placed in the news paper.
