By Nathan Akamba
Haji. Erias Lukwago last week been sworn in for the third term as Kampala Lord Mayor, he has been at the helm of the city since 2011.
“An eventful day at City Hall as we took the oath of office. I pledge total commitment to a people- centred development agenda,” Lukwago said on Wednesday after taking the oath of office.
Lukwago belongs to FDC Party its leadership, was ably represented by the President Hon. Eng. Patrick Amuriat Oboi, Deputy President Owek. Joyce Nabbosa Ssebugwawo, National Vice Chairman Hon. Salaamu Musumba, Party Treasurer General who also doubles as Tororo County North MP Hon. Geoffrey Ekanya, FDC Deputy Secretary General Mr. Harold Kaija, National Youth leader Mr. Mulindwa Walid Lubega, MPs; Mawokota South’s Hon. Yusuf Nsibambi and Kyamuswa County’s Hon. Kabuusu Moses among others.
Accompanied by his wife and children, Lukwago, 51, took the oath to lead as the City Lord Mayor of Kampala for another five-year term 2021 to 2026.
Erias Lukwago has been the mayor of Kampala City since 2011.
“I had intended to serve as Kampala Lord Mayor for 10 years and leave but because President Museveni brought stagnation in the city and the whole country in addition to attempts to frustrate my first term in office, I have found myself being the longest serving Lord Mayor of Kampala,” Lukwago told The Homeland Newspaper.
Lukwago said, the last two councils in his regime had tried to frustrate his leadership through political fights because some of them were from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the Democratic Party (DP).
“But they all left. This council is comprised of National Unity Platform (NUP) members who are my friends and hope we will work together to develop the city,” Lukwago added.
Lukwago cautioned the council members shun political fights and temptations for quick money.
He said the Authority needs about USD$ 2 billion to implement the five-year strategic plan that was passed by the council.
“That money should be made available by President Museveni’s government because most of the money is collected from Kampala in form of direct and indirect taxes,” he added.
Kampala capital city authority unlike before, where indigenous like DP and FDC and NRM this time round the city authority council is dominated by councilor from the main Opposition party National Unity Platform (NUP) led by former presidential candidate Bobi Wine, with 47, Four from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, and three from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
The ceremony presided over by Buganda Road Chief Magistrate, Miriam Ayo Akello, also saw 54 city councilors sworn in at a colorful function held at city hall gardens Kampala.
Subsequently, all elected division mayors and councilors in the city were sworn-in.
