The National Unity Platform-NUP will next week conduct primaries for the position of Speaker of Kampala Capital City Authority-KCCA.
The Speaker, a position introduced in the KCCA amendment of 2019 is elected by the councillors to preside over council sittings, pass authority budgets and conduct an oversight role.
NUP shall be the dominant party in the next KCCA council with 41 out of the 52 councillors.
The head of the Party Elections Management Committee Mercy Walukamba says that they will conduct the primaries on May 26 or 27.
According to Walukamba, five councillors have expressed interest in the speakership position.
The members are; Jeremiah Keeya Mwanje from Lubaga North 1, Zahara Luyirika, Woman Councillor elect for Makindye West, Innocent Tegusulwa from Nakawa, John Mary Ssebufu from Nakawa West and Hakim Kizza Sawula from Makindye.
Mwanje, a lawyer by profession believes he is the best candidate for the position considering his knowledge of the law and his experience in leadership.
Mwanje a member of the NUP Policy Team was the Vice Guild President of Makerere University during 2013/14. He was also a member of the Makerere University Council and its attendant Committees, Chief Advisor and Legal Advisor Baganda Nkobazambogo Makerere University and Legal Secretary of the Uganda Young Democrats Makerere University.
Mwanje says if voted as Speaker, he will ensure that there are respected rules of procedure that shall permit the council to discuss issues affecting the people of Kampala.
Ssebufu says having served as Councillor Kampala Central from 2006 to 2011, he has the knowledge of how the business runs at the Authority and the challenges affecting Kampala that need urgent attention by the leadership of the City. Ssebufu says he will also use his experience to promote a good working relationship between the political leadership in Kampala and the technical team.
Another councillor Zahara Luyirika has also expressed interest. Formerly a member of the Democratic Party-DP, Luyirika served as youth Councillor for Makindye Division in 2006 before becoming Woman Councillor Makindye West in 2011. In 2016, she lost her seat to FDCs Doreen Sabuka who she has since beaten in the recently concluded election to take back the same seat.
Luyirika is remembered for her active role in the 2013 impeachment of Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago. Working closely with Kyambogo University Councilor Bruhan Byaruhanga and 15 other councillors, they petitioned the then Minister for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs Frank Tumwebaze against Lukwago whom they accused of abuse of office, incompetence and attempting to sabotage activities of KCCA.
However, to some councillors, Luyirika is likely to bring back the old wars against Lukwago who now has only three councillors subscribing to the Forum for Democratic Change- FDC party.
Tegusulwa says that he can guide the council to debate Kampala’s challenges, however, some of his colleagues want him as a caucus Chairman.
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