The Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has refuted claims that he has been working with Gen Caleb Akandwanaho alias Salim Saleh, insisting that he has not met or had any handshake with him or those related to him.
Speaking during an interview on NBS TV on Monday Morning, Lukwago said that he should be credited for having no public picture of him and Gen Saleh, his brother Gen Yoweri Museveni or his nephew Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
He said this goes to prove how resilient and credible he has been during his reign as a member of parliament for Kampala and Lord Mayor respectively.
“I have not shaken hands with Gen Saleh anywhere for all the time I have been Kampala Lord Mayor or Member of Parliament. I have not shaken hands with Gen Muhoozi or Museveni. Do you have any pictures anywhere at any event? Produce it,” Lukwago said.
It should be noted that Gen Saleh has been purportedly writing chits revealing that he has been supporting Lukwago. However, the General said he is unhappy over certain comments Lukwago made in public and in one of the chits insists he intends to withdraw all financial and political support unless he receives an apology from the Lord Mayor.
Lukwago now maintains that he needs to hear from General Saleh verbally.
“The issue you are talking about, I haven't heard him (Gen Saleh) saying anything about it and I have dragged New Vision to the High Court to challenge them to come and explain who said what,” he said.
He goes on to claim that the entire chit-writing business and attaching him to Gen Saleh is a fight aimed at diverting him from crucial issues such as the overpriced road construction project in the city and the alleged over-payment of land in Kisenyi by the government aimed at stealing the tax payers’ money.
“The genesis of this matter is what they want to cover up, the genesis of this matter largely is about the cartels here in Kampala who are hell-bent on siphoning off public resources,” he said.
Lukwago insists that the city has been captured by certain ‘cartels’ whose donkey work is being done by Kampala Minister Kabuye Kyofatogabye whom he also accuses of being a spokesperson for Gen Saleh.
“I am not here to discuss mysterious chits. The only person hyped about them is Minister Kyofatogabye and you know his character. Kindly spare me that crap,” Lukwago quipped on further being pushed to explain.
“People want to drag you into the mud. When people are dirty, they always want to make you also look dirty and that is the irony. What amuses me is they think that to bring down Lukwago, lets make create a picture of him being close to us,” he added.
He said that the main matter should be for the country to focus on the issue behind these chit fights, by first of all looking at the inflated costs of road maintenance in the city.
Lukwago also claimed that it is possible his fight against the cartels could cost him his life entirely, but says that does not worry him
“I have been picking the minds of these cartels from the rumblings of (Minister) Kyofatogabye. I am not worried for my life but if it happens tonight or tomorrow, don't be surprised.
