The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has clarified that the funding for the COVID-19 remembrance parade is provided by Canadian development partners, not the Government of Uganda. The announcement comes after a report from Parliament Watch suggested that KCCA was seeking sh600m from Parliament for various tourism activities, including the mentioned parade.
The clarification, issued in a public notice on January 8, 2024, emphasized that KCCA received a funding offer from Canadian partners for the COVID-19 remembrance parade. The initiative aims to celebrate the country’s resilience and commemorate the lives lost during the pandemic, especially acknowledging the sacrifices of frontline workers.
The authority highlighted that such collaborations with international partners are in line with the smart city agenda, where activities spanning education, health, tourism, and city infrastructure development receive support from various contributors.
“In 2023, KCCA received external funding and support for these works,” the notice stated. Examples included the lighting of KCCA markets and schools, refurbishments of city infrastructure funded by UNDP, financial literacy training for parish development model (PDM) beneficiaries with support from Standard Chartered bank, and contributions for greening Kampala city from the Private Sector Foundation (PSF) and HAM enterprises.
KCCA’s Deputy Executive Director, Eng. David Luyimbazi, addressed the parliamentary presidential affairs committee, emphasizing that the COVID-19 remembrance parade serves as a dual-purpose initiative. It not only honors the lives lost during the pandemic but also expresses gratitude to the medical workers who played a crucial role in treating and saving lives.
