Erias Lukwago celebrates Jennifer Musisi’s exit

Lukwago and Musisi presented two contradicting reports about the conduct of KCCA law enforcement officers
Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago (R) and outgoing Kampala Capital City Authority executive Director Jennifer Musisi (C) while appearing before the parliamentary committee on Presidential Affairs to respond to questions arising from the recent conduct of KCCA law enforcement officers last year

Kampala Lord Mayor Elias Lukwago has celebrated the resignation of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director, Jennifer Musisi.

Musisi on Monday 15th announced her resignation after seven years in office. In a 21-page letter dated October 15, 2018, Musisi said she will cease being executive director of KCCA effective December 15, 2018.

Addressing a press conference at his office at City Hall in Kampala, this morning. Lukwago said Musisi was disrespectful, obsessed with power and worked with a lot of impunity.

Lukwago, also accused Musisi of continually absconding from duty saying she had stopped working in 2016 and missed numerous KCCA meetings on grounds of being out of office or away on leave.

He says Musisi was only an opportunist who seemed hardworking when KCCA hosted high profile individuals adding that her resignation was long overdue.

However he adds that prior to her departure, Musisi must account for the time she has spent in office.

Jennifer Musisi has been the Executive Director of Kampala for more than seven years, a term which was characterized by bickering between the political and technical wings of KCCA. She is credited for transforming Kampala’s infrastructure and improving the public image of the city.

But Lukwago says his council shall conduct a meeting on Thursday in which they expect Musisi to give a detailed account from her office. He says Musisi promised so much in the KCCA Strategic Development plan that she did not implement.

Meanwhile, some KCCA councillors have said that Musisi should not blame politics as one of the reasons for her resignation.

Makerere University Councillor, Doreen Nyanjura argued that Musisi and the technical team she leads had for long ignored advice of the political wing. If it is political interference that caused the resignation, Nyanjura argued that it could be from President Museveni and other political forces.

Nakawa Councillor Kennedy Okello argued that Musisi resigned in spirit in 2016 when President Museveni solely blamed her for the NRM party loss in Kampala in the 2016 elections.

Okello also argued that citing political interference as the cause of resignation is vague.

Unlike government authorities and agencies, Okello said Musisi knew that there would be political interference because KCCA is supervised by politicians. He said KCCA technocrats are aware that they are a board of politicians.

Kyambogo University Councillor Byaruhanga Bruhani, says that since there have been many political actors interfering in the operations of the KCCA technical wing, the Authority which is made up of councillors can’t be solely blamed for Musisi’s resignation.

However, the councillors also applauded Musisi for transforming the city in the years that she has been at the helm. Doreen Nyanjura said during Musisi’s tenure, nearly everything has improved. She equally praised Musisi for resigning instead of waiting to be sacked.

URN