Kampala Capital City Authority-KCCA Councilors have finally approved Sulaiman Kidandala, the deputy city Lord Mayor. Kidandala was appointed by Erias Lukwago, the city Lord Mayor on 19th October but he was rejected by the councilors. NRM leaning councilors rejected Kidandala accusing Lukwago of sidelining them in the formation of his cabinet. This morning, while presenting his 2011 performance report for discussions, Lukwago told the councilor his work including the approval of council minutes had stalled because of the confusion surrounding the office of his deputy.
He said that even the minutes of the 2011 budget estimates had not been approved because of the lack of deputy lord mayor. Lukwago pleaded with the councilors to revisit their stand on the position of the deputy lord mayor to help clean up the council minutes. He tabled two versions of minutes regarding the appointment of his deputy. He said that one of the meeting was presided over by George Agaba, the interdicted former KCCA director of physical planning, who represented Jenifer Musisi, the KCCA executive director.
He warned councilors that unless the record is straight, their meeting could be a waste of resources and therefore asked them to deal with the matter of the deputy lord mayor conclusively. John Muwanguzi, the councilor for Kawempe Division supported the Lord Mayor and asked fellow councilor to approve Kidandala.
He cited section 9(3) of the KCCA act 2010 that mandates the lord mayor to appoint his deputy from amongst members of the authority. Muwanguzi also said that he had scrutinized the educational qualifications of Kidandala and found him fit for the post office of the deputy mayor. Kidandala on his part expressed his willingness to serve the authority, saying that he was qualified to hold the post.
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Madina Nsereko, the female councilor for Kawempe Division moved a motion to approve Kidandala, which was seconded by Shifra Lukwago. Kidandala was unanimously approved by the councilors to officially assume the office of the deputy lord mayor. The approval of Kidandala settles the matter that had divided the council for close to a year. Three meetings convened to resolve the stalemate hit as a snag as some of the councilors decided to stay away.
Godfrey Assimwe, the councilor for Lubaga division says that the decision to approve Kidandala was reached following a series of meetings between NRM leaning councilors and the lord mayor to amend their working relations. The KCCA council is comprised of 21 NRM councilors, six from DP, 2 FDC and independents.
