Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has raised concerns over the rising cost of living, chronic underfunding of the capital, and what he described as excessive and costly governance structures, warning that these challenges continue to hinder equitable development in Kampala and beyond.
Speaking to Canary Mugume during NBS Face Off on Sunday, Lukwago said the economic hardships facing Ugandans are not limited to urban areas.
“The cost of living is very high across the board, not just in Kampala. Even those in the countryside find it harsh,” he noted.
Lukwago revealed that a Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) audit shows the city has a total road network of approximately 2,104 kilometres, but only 770 kilometres are paved, largely due to limited funding from the central government.
“We have had no adequate funds. All the paved network is thanks to development partners,” he said.
Under KCCA’s 2021–2025 Strategic Plan, the authority projected receiving Shs 10.3 trillion in remittances from central government by the end of the 2025 financial year. However, only 28 percent of that amount has been remitted, Lukwago said, adding that the shortfall has severely constrained service delivery and infrastructure development.
He also criticised the “over-subscription” of governance and leadership structures in Kampala, saying this has resulted in unnecessary public expenditure.
“Kampala is over-subscribed in terms of governance and leadership, unnecessarily. There is a huge cost on public expenditure, which is unfortunate,” he said.
On environmental and public safety issues, Lukwago said he has repeatedly raised alarms about the Kiteezi Landfill and the Nakivubo Drainage Channel, but his warnings were largely ignored.
“I have sounded myself hoarse and raised the red flag on many of these issues, including Kiteezi Landfill and the Nakivubo Drainage Channel, but all the guns instead came out blazing against me,” he said.
Looking ahead, Lukwago said his leadership legacy will be defined by social justice, equitable development, and curbing monopolistic control over the city.
“What ultimately will define my leadership are the values that I have championed. Even in this current campaign, nobody is within my lane of social justice, equitable development, and ensuring that cartels don’t own the city, which is significant,” he said.
Lukwago’s broader manifesto includes revitalizing KCCA governance structures, upgrading all eight KCCA health facilities to City Community Hospital status, restoring excellence in KCCA schools, implementing the Kampala Drainage Master Plan, completing Phillip Omondi Stadium, expanding community sports facilities, and rolling out empowerment programs for youth, women, older persons, persons with disabilities, and refugees.
The Lord Mayor faces a competitive race with NUP’s Ronald Balimwezo, NRM’s Moses Kizito Nsubuga, FDC’s Ibrahim Kasozi, DP’s Beatrice Mao, and independent candidate Nabila Nagayi Ssempala among others. In the 2021 election, Lukwago won decisively with 194,592 votes against Ssempala’s 60,082.