Minister Benny Namugwanya
One of the the presidential directives to Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) for the period of 2016-2021 was to grow revenue collection.
While speaking at the OPM Auditorium, State Minister for Kampala Benny Namugwanya Bugembe reported an increase in revenue collection by 197% for the period under review.
Partly, this can be attributed to automating revenue processes to reduce human interface; e-Citie for revenue and Establishing the Anti-corruption toll free call numbers: 0800 990 000 and 0794 662 222.
Other attributions include completion of the Computer Aided Mass Valuation for all City Properties and successful implementation of Public Financial Management reforms.
The Minister added that in the period between 2016 – Mar 2020, the following was achieved:
• Over 5.2 Bn disbursed towards commercializing agriculture in Kampala.
• Over 4,600 urban farmers supported with inputs & new farming techniques.
• Over 3,300 farmers provided with on farm advisory services in Crop and Animal Production.
• Over 250 Women supported to start mushroom growing projects.
• Promoted fish farming as a viable commercial enterprise and currently working with 53 fish farmers.
• Increased school enrolment by 5%.
• Constructed over 151 classrooms and renovated 61 classrooms.
• Constructed 6 science laboratories.
• Distributed 240 computers.
• Supplied 1,485 3-seater desks to over 22 Schools.
• Set up a Teachers SACCO with over 1,238 members to-date with a net worth of over UGX 2.0 bn.
• Improved school sanitation in over 30 City Public schools 650 new toilet stances constructed. This has reduced the pupil stance ratio from 1:101 (2012) to 1:58. (2019).
• Improved cooking facilities in 15 schools.
• 50 Teachers Housing units constructed and rehabilitated.
• A total of 540 stances of waterborne toilets were constructed or renovated in over 22 City schools.
• Reduced number of days for building plan approval from 60 days (2016) to 14 days (2020).
• 166,098 properties have been assigned house numbers on 1,588 roads in the city.
• 86,252 House numbers have been entered in the online database.
• 2,599 Street signage faces have been installed on 1,742 sites improving navigation using GPS and online service delivery.
• 3,359 Roads have been named. 1019 in Kawempe, 959 Makindye, 765 Lubaga & 595 in Nakawa.
• Continues to collect 1,200 tons of garbage daily.
• Set up 5 Plastic collection sites across the City.
• Introduced 3 Private concessionaires in the collection and transportation of solid waste across the City.
• Procured 135 acres for New Land Fill at Dundu Mukono to be operationalised under a PPP arrangement.
• Over 146% of child immunization has been recorded to-date above the National target. Kampala is now in category 1 of WHO Standard.
• 121% increase in Deliveries in Health Care Unit.
• Kampala was recognized as the most improved district in TB treatment.
• Renovated the following HCs; Kisugu health centre, Komamboga health centre, City mortuary, Kisenyi health centre, City Hall Clinic, Kawaala and Kitebi.
KCCA also continued to implement the CDD Program in the City and in the period 2016 -2020, the following was achieved;
• A total of UGX 3.02 Bn has been disbursed.
• Benefitted over 1,039 groups with 15,833 members.
• Annually conducts over 50 community sensitizations engagement and pre-disbursement trainings in all Divisions across the across the city.
YLP targets the unemployed youth
KCCA started implementation of the Youth Livelihood Program (YLP) in the FY 2013/14 and has to-date disbursed UGX 3.43 Billion, benefiting 359 youth projects with over 3,956 youths comprising 2,122 males and 1,834 females.
Cumulatively, UGX 768,184,670 has been recovered accounting for a recovery rate of 22%.
Upcoming projects
• The Kampala Street lighting Project
• With support from Agence Française de Développement (AFD), KCCA completed the feasibility study for the Kampala Lighting Master Plan.
• KCCA requires UGX 280 Billion to implement the project which will include the installation of 20,000 street lamps across the City.
Security
Working with the Kampala Metropolitan Police KMP, KCCA continues to ensure Security in the City. The following have been undertaken:
• Installation of CCTV camera
• Enforcing of trade order
• Elimination of criminal gangs like Kifeesi
• Installation of street light in sections of the City (Makerere Hill road)
• Currently undertaking deliberate efforts to regulate the Boda Boda industry
CHALLENGES
• Inadequate financing for key infrastructure and city maintenance programs
• Old and dilapidated Buildings, schools & health infrastructure which requires a lot of money to maintain
• Vandalism of Public assets (solar batteries)
• Enforcing Security across the City
• Misuse of public infrastructure like walkways and drainage structures used for dumping of garbage leading to high maintenance costs.
• Lack of an efficient public transport system which has led to an increase in use of private cars and motorcycles (boda bodas) and hence traffic congestion.
By Francis Otucu
