Veteran journalist and National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer for Hoima City East, Joshua Byakutaaga Wamani, has commended Ugandan-born Zohran Kwame Mamdani following his election as the Mayor of New York City, additionally, he urged greater environmental accountability in Kampala’s urban management.
Speaking during NBS Morning Breeze on Friday, Byakutaaga praised Mamdani’s political courage and the symbolic importance of his victory for Ugandans abroad.
“Zohran Mamdani was smart enough to contest in a cosmopolitan city — a city that is very diverse. Zohran is going to have a lot going against him, but I am excited to see someone Ugandan in charge of New York City, and I hope he has a good spell,” he said.
Byakutaaga emphasized the significance of Mamdani’s ascent for underrepresented communities globally.
“I would like to see people in the minority given a platform. Zohran belongs to the minority, and I am excited to see what he does,” he said.
Mamdani, an Ugandan-American born in Kampala, made international headlines this week after being elected Mayor of New York City — becoming the youngest person to hold the position since 1892. At just 34 years old, Mamdani, who ran on the Democratic Party ticket, defeated prominent opponents including Andrew Cuomo (Independent) and Curtis Sliwa (Republican). His victory has been widely hailed as a landmark achievement in the Ugandan diaspora community and a testament to Uganda’s expanding influence on the global stage.
Byakutaaga also criticised what he described as misuse of political connections in recent urban redevelopment projects that, he believes, have exacerbated Kampala’s worsening flood crisis.
“We want to see a better city, but at what cost in terms of environmental responsibility? It's a political question,” he said.
He pointed particularly to the ongoing crisis around the Nakivubo Channel, arguing that decisions made under the guise of modernization have ignored environmental implications.
“I think what happened at Nakivubo was an abuse of proximity to the President and authority. It’s time people take responsibility for the flooding in the city,” Byakutaaga said.
Byakutaaga’s comments come as Kampala grapples with severe flash floods following weeks of heavy rainfall that have overwhelmed the city’s drainage infrastructure. Low-lying areas such as Kisenyi, Katwe, Bwaise, and the Nakivubo Channel basin have been hit hardest, with extensive damage to businesses, homes, and road networks.
The Nakivubo redevelopment project, spearheaded by businessman Hamis Kiggundu, popularly known as Ham, has faced mounting criticism amid accusations that the construction obstructed natural water channels, worsening the city’s vulnerability to flooding.
Although the project was initially marketed as a modern urban drainage and recreational upgrade, traders and residents now allege it has deepened Kampala’s environmental challenges.
