Ugandans have expressed hope and outlined the major problems that need urgent fixing – following the fast appointment of the new Executive and Deputy Directors of Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA).
During this festive season, President Yoweri Museveni has been steadfast in the confirmation of Hajat Sharifah Buzeki as the new Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA). She will be deputized by Mr. Benon Moses Kigenyi . Both are seasoned public servants who have scaled the ranks in Uganda’s public service and emerged the best candidates in the interviews conducted for the top jobs recently .
Buzeki has been Commissioner HR at the Public Service Ministry and Kigenyi has served as Under Secretary in various government ministries before his new appointment .
Kigenyi’s job will be tough to fix the mess that is Kampala.
Among the major problems facing the city that Ugandans want the new leadership to deal with decisively in the new year include but not limited to the menace that is boda -bodas that clog the city roads and create endless jam besides being reckless and dont follow traffic rules while on the roads. It is estimated that there are over 500,000 boda bodas in Kampala alone.
” Let the boda bodas be kept out of the central district . They should operate in the suburbs and with gazetted stages which are well managed . Enforcement of traffic regulations must be a must to restore sanity on the city roads . The new leadership should encourage the introduction of buses and set up bus lanes across the city . Uganda’s automakers ,Kiira Motors are producing electric buses which should be deployed to reduce traffic jam and pollution by end of life vehicles, ” Elias Sonko stated on his social media platforms.
Janet Kabagambe said that Kampala should be kept “green and clean .” She said that Kampala’s streets should be kept clean both during day and night . ” There should be penalties for littering and dumping of waste in drainage channels . The communities especially in the markets should be mobilised to enforce regulations against dumping waste on roads and drainage channels across the city . The law and regulations should be enforced without political considerations. Some of these services should be decentralized to the divisions with strict performance targets pegged on budget allocations ,” she advised .
Another resident noted that there is a lot of noise pollution in the city from entertainment places and churches which needs to be dealt with. Some churches in the suburbs are untouchable . People don’t sleep as these centers use loud speakers to pray during day and night from Monday to Monday . “These issues need strong leadership that should whip people in line ,” daniel Kabagambe added.
Other problems that have been mentioned by the residents include the problem of poor planning where people build anywhere and everywhere . ” You find buildings constructed on drainage channels , road reserves , wet lands and you wonder if we have an authority in Kampala , “Rhita Musoke said .
The people of Kampala also want security of persons and property noting that there is increased insecurity in the city .
“Goons have taken over downtown . Some of them are even known to police and the authorities but nothing is done to apprehend them . ” Kampala must be a secure city where people carry on with their businesses and work without fear of being mugged and their property stolen by the rampaging Kanyamas and other outlaws in and around the city ,”Lucy Akello stated.
Road side vending should not be allowed anywhere in Kampala . ” You find vendors cooking food by the roadside , on walkways meant for pedestrians. These habits must be stopped . But you need day- to-day supervision and enforcement . I’m not sure our new managers have what it takes to say enough is enough ,” Goerge Kajabagu mused .
Many residents didnt forget the potholes and gullies in the city . They refered to the recent ” potholes exhibition on social media and urged the new top honchos to redeem the image of Kampala that is deemed the “potholes city” of the world .
For Lillian Nalukenge it was the lack of traffic lights issue and those which work for a few minutes and are off for the rest of the day that bothers her . She also pointed out the old matatus which cause accidents and pollute the city while the traffic policemen turn a blind eye or pocket ‘kintu kidogo.’ ” Traffic police officers are very funny people. They will issue penalty receipt to vehicle with a small crack on the windscreen but then allow a taxi with thick smoke , without breaking lights and side mirrors to stay on the road . Why are DMCs allowed on city roads?, ” she wondered .
These and many more challenges await Buzeki and Kigenyi as their work is cut out already .
