President Yoweri Museveni has clarified that the appointment of the Executive Director of Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA), Jenifer Musisi was to rescue Kampala City from dirtiness, potholes, flies and shame that the Local government had failed to handle for 25 years.
The President was last evening meeting the business community leaders in State House, when he asked them to demand their political leaders to clean the city so that Uganda does not lose in terms of investors, tourists who may be scared off due to the bad situation of the city.
He added; “don’t make Kampala a battle-field but keep it clean. Musisi came to rescue the situation of the City that had got out of hands of the Local Government who had failed to manage its cleanliness, potholes and public health for 25 years.
Mr. Museveni observed that whereas Jennifer Musisi might have some fault in the execution of her work, she is not corrupt. The President further clarified that The KCCA Executive Director, is not the original problem of the City of Kampala adding that the original problem was the failure of Kampala leaders to maintain public health and sanitation in the City.
“We strengthened the Executive Director’s role because Kampala leaders had failed with the sanitation of the City. Had the system been efficient, Musisi would not be there. Since 1986, NRM sent you a gun; the gun of a vote and every time you vote, you vote opposition every year,” the President said.
Mr. Museveni castigated City residents and said they also share the blame for always voting opposition leaders who have not done anything to help develop the City. He promised the meeting that he is going to deal with corrupt elements in the City.
In the meeting that took place at State House Entebbe, Museveni informed them that the original and initial plan by the government for the City Council markets and abattoirs, was for low income earners to work there and once they had got rich, they would then go and do other businesses leaving space for other small beginners to also start working from there.
He told them that somewhere along the way, without sufficient discussion, the individuals and groups that have been in the markets and abattoirs for a long time have become and made themselves owners, monopolizing the system.
He, however, suggested that if the old markets had already adopted the ownership system, then new markets can be developed to carry on with the original planned system of the government because it caters for very many people. He said that if the old markets can still be recovered legally to begin the original plan, then it should be done.
“This is a crucial issue for the future beginners of the market business. The strategy is to help beginners…,” he emphasized.
