By Joshua Mujunga
Kira Municipality's National Unity Platform (NUP) leaders have opted to boycott the launch of the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA) Urban Development Program, where President Yoweri Museveni was expected to be the guest of honor.
This decision comes in the wake of recent tensions surrounding the treatment of NUP leaders, particularly following an incident involving prominent party figure Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, who was reportedly attacked by police as he left the home of NUP lawyer George Musisi.
The NUP caucus, which constitutes a significant portion of the opposition leadership within Kira Municipality Council—alongside Democratic Party (DP) and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) representatives decided that attending the event could be perceived as a betrayal of their party's principles.
With NUP holding a majority in the council, their absence from the launch underscores the growing rift between the opposition and the ruling party.
The GKMA Urban Development Program, which encompasses 440.19 kilometers of roadworks, the construction of 19 markets, and two slaughter areas, is set to cost approximately USD 566 million.
This ambitious project is funded by the World Bank, with the Ugandan government responsible for repaying USD 48 million of the total cost.
Sources close to the NUP leadership indicate that the decision to boycott was led by Kira Municipality Mayor Mutebi Julius and his fellow NUP councillors.
They expressed concerns that attending President Museveni's function could be interpreted as a defection to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Furthermore, there were fears of police harassment, with councillors believing they would not be given a fair opportunity to voice their opinions at the event.
The GKMA Urban Development Program aims to enhance infrastructure and urban resilience in the Greater Kampala area, which includes key districts such as Kampala, Mukono, and Wakiso.
However, the absence of Kira's NUP leaders at the launch highlights the ongoing political tensions and the challenges of fostering collaboration among various political factions in Uganda's urban development initiatives.
As the program progresses, the implications of this boycott may resonate throughout the political landscape, potentially affecting future engagements between the government and opposition parties in matters of urban development and governance.