TRANSPARENCY: CoST Uganda Commissions 2nd Infrastructure Transparency Index
Shift Media News 
BY PATRICK JARAMOGI
KAMPALA, Uganda: When Eng. Andrew Kitaka started poking his nose on contentious city land, it became a matter of when, and not if he would be ejected out of City Hall. And it didn’t come as a surprise when President Museveni in a letter that circulated widely on social media on Friday suggested that Dorothy Kitaka, now currently the administrator of the COVID-19 Fund takes over as new Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director.
Less than a week ago, one of President Museveni’s “blue-eyed” Minister, Princess Persis Namuganza made it clear that Kitaka would be ejected out of City Hall.
Appearing before Top Radio Talk Show hosted by Dunstan Busuulwa, Namuganza said “It has come to my notice that Kitaka is in the act of selling all the remaining land in Kampala as if he is about to leave. But I will bring it to the attention of the President that we need a full substantial Executive Director at KCCA.”
Namuganza, the state Minister for Lands sounded so bitter with Kitaka and the way he handled land issues in the capital. “Can you imagine had sold part of Kira Road Police Land to an investor? He went too far. He has no powers at all to sell any land in Kampala without our (Ministry of Lands) authority,” said Namuganza.
She said she had received complaints that another plot of land located along Luwum street was being sold to an investor to put up a mall. “Concerned citizens alerted me that KCCA had sold that plot on Luwum street. I came in to block that deal,” she said.
Namuganza said she had also received reports that Kitaka and his foes were set to sell a prime land belonging to a school in Old Kampala. “I thought that somebody in an acting position would work perfectly so as to be confirmed, but it looks like Kitaka is offsetting all land he can lay his hands on immediately, he will leave,” she vowed.
Eng Kitaka was initially the Director of Engineering and Technical Services starting in 2011 when Kampala Capital City Authority was created. He held this position until he was appointed as Acting Executive Director of KCCA following the resignation of Jenipher Musisi in December 2018.
The Former Kampala Minister, Beti Olive Kamya appointed Kitaka as Acting KCCA ED following the resignation of his predecessor, Jennifer Musisi.
In January after his initial contract expired, President, Yoweri Museveni extended his tenure as the Acting Executive Director Kampala Capital City Authority-KCCA for six more months.
He continued to serve in the same capacity exceeding six months provided for in the Public Service Standing Orders for one to serve in an acting capacity. Namuganza, just like Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago insisted that government should appoint a substantive Executive Director rather than appoint People in an acting capacity.
During this COVID-19 crisis, the Lord Mayor has always claimed that over shs2billion allocated by Parlaiment to fight the pandemic has not been fully accounted for. Kitaka as the ED is the accounting officer of the Authority.
Kisaka nominated
President Yoweri Museveni effectively proposed Dorothy Kisaka to become the new Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director.
similarly, Kitaka’s deputy Samuel Sserunkuma and three other top officials at the authority are also set for replacement. Eng. Kitaka has been in an acting capacity for a period of one year and a half years.
“I’m writing to request you to interview for me the following persons and find out whether they are suitable to man the indicated offices in Kampala Capital City Authority,” the president wrote in a letter to public service commission.
President Museveni also recommended engineer, David Luyimbazi as Deputy Director. Eng. Luyimbazi is credited with the designing and construction of Entebbe Express Highway and Jinja new bridge. He was maliciously sacked from Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), but an inquiry exonerated him.
KCCA Executive Director and Deputy Director are appointed by the president on the recommendations of public service commission.
Also recommended by the President are Dr. Daniel Okello Ayen as Director of Health and Environment, Ms. Sarah Knayike as Director of Gender, Community Service, and former CIID Director Ms Grace Akullo as Director Human Resources and Administration.
Who is Dorothy Kisaka?
Ms Kisaka is Senior is a Presidential Advisor, currently the administrator of the COVID-19 Funds under the Office of the Prime Minister.
she was formerly a commissioner at the NRM Electoral Commission supervising intra-party elections, she currently serves as Board Chairman for Development Associates International, and represents Africa on the Haggai International Board.
