The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago has sued Kampala Minister Betty Kamya over what he termed as meddling in KCCA meetings.
The Lord Mayor says they have explored all other avenues and were left with no option but to run to court. He filed the case at the High Court this morning.
Lukwago claims that Ms Kamya’s decision to stall council meetings on grounds that they are illegal and no longer relevant to the city was irrational and unreasonable .
Lukwago is now seeking orders to quash Kamya’s decision regarding the legality of Council meetings and another decision that subjects all his travels as the Lord Mayor to a “ministerial permit ” .
Lukwago claims such decisions are an infringement and abuse of his rights and freedoms.
Lukwago further seeks orders to compel Kamya to put in place a metropolitan physical planning committee as required by the KCCA Act arguing that the absence of this committee negatively impacts him in the execution of his duties of developing and strategizing for the city.
Renewed battle
The suit comes days after Hon. Kamya refused to facilitate the Kampala Lord Mayor’s trip to Malaysia for a World Bank conference.
The World Bank had paid for Mr Lukwago’s ticket and got him a visa to the World Urban Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from February 7 to 13.
But the Mayor in May 2017 had also run to High Court (Civil division) seeking payment of his 30 months arrears amounting to Shs 563 million.
Through his chambers, M/s Lukwago & Co. Advocates, the Mr Lukwago seeks among other things an order of mandamus compelling the respondents to pay his accumulated emoluments and salary arrears for the period of December to May 2016 with costs, after a botched impeachment by majority councillors.
Background
Mr Lukwago was appointed Lord Mayor on March 14, 2011 after he garnered 64 percent of the votes cast and took oath on May20, 2011.
In November 2013 after a trial before the tribunal chaired by justice Catherine Bamugemerierwe, Lukwago was impeached through a process presided over by the then line minister Frank Tumwebaze by the Registrar Fred Waninda and Justice Yasin Nyanzi.
In flagrant defiance, Mr Tumwebaze went on with presiding over the impeachment and the same was declared null and void by Justice Lydia Mugambe who also condemned Mr Tumwebaze, Musisi, the AG and the Electoral Commission which had begun preparing a by-election.
Mr Lukwago says this to date, Justice Mugambe’s order has never been set aside and that the 21-day single judge interim order by the deputy Chief Justice, Justice Steven Kavuma expired.
To date, he has never received the money.
