Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has pledged to ensure strict accountability at City Hall to safeguard taxpayers’ money. Speaking to hundreds of supporters during the launch of his campaign trail at Kawempe Muslim Primary School playground on Tuesday, Lukwago said that during his tenure at the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), he encountered several cases of fund misuse, some of which he intercepted to prevent losses to Kampala residents.
Lukwago noted that he remains committed to ensuring accountability for money borrowed by the government from organizations such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank for infrastructure development projects, including roads and drainage systems.
He added that much of the money borrowed for road construction in Kampala has been misused through exaggerated project costs meant to swindle public funds—something he has consistently fought against. Lukwago also called for unity among opposition political parties to end President Yoweri Museveni’s rule. He revealed that discussions have been held among various opposition groups to agree on a single presidential candidate and unified political strategy, though consensus has not yet been reached.
He expressed optimism that ongoing engagements during the campaign period could yield a binding position. During the rally, several politicians not affiliated with the People’s Front for Freedom were given a platform to campaign for Lukwago, including Mohamed Luswa Luwemba of the Common Man’s Party, a former aide to the late Ssegirinya Muhammad of the National Unity Platform (NUP).
Others who campaigned for Lukwago included Hajji Latif Ssebaggala Ssengendo, who is contesting as an independent candidate for the position of Mayor of Kawempe Division. Ssebaggala urged residents to vote for both him and Lukwago to ensure smooth cooperation and development in Kawempe.
He advised voters not to base their choices on political parties but on the competence and service record of individual candidates. Ssebaggala further encouraged voters to support Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) for the presidency but to evaluate other candidates on merit rather than party lines. Several independent councilor candidates allied with Lukwago also addressed the rally as part of a strategy to secure cooperative councilors at KCCA, who would work closely with the Lord Mayor if re-elected, to ensure effective service delivery—unlike in the outgoing council.
Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, contesting for the Kira Municipality Member of Parliament seat, urged voters in Kawempe to use the ballot to remove President Museveni, whom he described as “the country’s main problem.” Ssemujju criticized some politicians and councilors for conniving to sell off public assets such as markets and drainage channels to so-called local investors.
He further called on the youth to vote wisely for their future, noting that about 170,000 Ugandans are currently working as housemaids in Saudi Arabia, a number higher than the population of Butambala District, which stands at 140,000. He said this reflects the dire unemployment crisis facing Ugandan youth.
Ssemujju urged the youth to unite and decide the fate of their country by voting for leaders who will genuinely work for their interests. Other notable figures at the rally included Allan Ssewanyana, the incumbent Makindye West MP and former NUP member, who also rallied the people of Kawempe to vote for Erias Lukwago as Lord Mayor and Robert Kyagulanyi for the presidency.
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