Kampala Capital City Authority has set 5th March as the election date for the post of speaker and the duty.
In a notice issued to all the division mayors and Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, the acting executive director, Eng. Andrew Kitaka Kitaka stated: “Sections 8B (5) and 29B (5) of the same Act provides for a Chief Magistrate to preside at the election of speaker and deputy speaker and it’s upon this that KCCA has accordingly scheduled Council meetings for purposes of election of speakers and deputy speakers at the authority and at the five (5) Division Urban Councils of Nakawa, Makindye, Lubaga, Central and Kawempe on the 5th day of March 2020.”
Addressing journalists at the media center, the minister of Kampala and metropolitan affairs, Betty Amongi said the five divisions of Kampala will also hold the elections of the same on the same day at their division headquarters.
According to the set guidelines for this poll, only the lord mayor, his deputy, division mayors, executive director, town clerks, Resident City commissioners, journalists, and the chief magistrate will be allowed to access the voting area.
Mobile phones and any other recording device have been prohibited from this voting exercise.
The election is for one day and the winner shall be handed instruments of power that same day.
Three people have so far shown interest in this race among them; FDC’s Doreen Nyanjura and Abubaker Kawalywa and NRM’s Bruhan Byaruhanga.
On November 28, 2019, President Yoweri Museveni assented to the Kampala Capital City (Amendment) Act, 2019.
The Amendment Act, 2019 under sections 8A and 29A established the offices of Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the Authority and Division Urban Councils respectively.
Under the amended Act, the functions of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker shall be presiding over all meetings of the Council, be charged with the overall authority for the preservation of order in the Council and ensuring the enforcement of the rules of procedure of Council.
The functions of the speakers are similar to those of the Speaker of Parliament.
According to Kitaka’s statement, the elections will be held concurrently. The election of the speakers will be conducted by the electoral commission.
At a recent interview with Lukwago, he said his office was ready and waiting for the elections.
