NUP and NRM in Close Contest for Kampala City Hall Speaker

Kampala is abuzz with political anticipation as the National Unity Platform (NUP) and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) prepare for a competitive election for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker roles at the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).

The race for the Speaker position features NUP’s John Mary Ssebuwuufu against the NRM’s Ali Kalule. Ssebuwuufu, who secured his party’s nomination after winning internal primaries, highlighted his experience in urban planning and policy formulation as key assets for the role.

“We shall guide the council, the councillors, and the technical team. We shall effectively scrutinise whatever will come from the executive and the Lord Mayor’s office for with unity, working together with NRM for inclusive development,” Ssebuwuufu stated, expressing a commitment to collaborative governance.

Kalule, endorsed by the NRM KCCA Lord Councillors’ Caucus, emphasized his focus on fostering unity and enhancing service delivery. “If given a chance, in my first 100 days I will focus on promoting stability, service delivery, constructive engagement, and people-centred leadership within the Kampala Capital City Authority Council,” he pledged.

For the Deputy Speaker position, NUP has nominated Olive Namazzi, while the NRM is fielding Dr. Nicholas Kwarija. Namazzi outlined her priorities, including a review of the City Trade Order and improved solid waste management, advocating for better urban spaces and protection against environmental health risks.

Despite NUP holding a slight numerical advantage with 19 votes (including the Lord Mayor) against the NRM’s 13 plus three independents leaning towards the ruling party, the contest is expected to be close. A similar situation occurred in 2021 when NUP lost a division speaker race despite having a majority, underscoring the unpredictable nature of these elections.

This election follows the recent swearing-in of the Lord Mayor and 34 Lord Councillors, who will grapple with ongoing issues such as flooding, trade enforcement, water management, and infrastructure development in Kampala.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)