NUP Accuses KCCA of Mishandling Kampala’s Garbage Crisis

(Kampala) – Kampala’s City Hall recently witnessed scenes that could rival the drama of a classic Ugandan wedding, complete with finger pointing and raised voices. On Tuesday, September 17, NUP councillors launched a heated tirade against the KCCA’s City Executive Committee (CEC), accusing them of ducking responsibility by failing to present a critical report on waste management.

The issue of Kampala’s garbage isn’t exactly new. Much like our reliable boda-bodas during jam, the problem keeps coming back. But this time, it seems the smell of the waste wasn’t as pungent as the political finger pointing that ensued. The National Unity Platform (NUP) party is now probing its own councillors to determine just what triggered this City Hall drama. It seems the party wants to figure out if this was a legitimate concern or merely a case of politicians sharpening their verbal pangas.

“We are trying to get to the bottom of it so that we can issue a statement about it,” said NUP Secretary General, David Lewis Rubongoya. It appears that the NUP’s usual “People Power” chant was momentarily sidelined in favor of “Find the Culprit!” Whether this investigation will actually lead to solutions, or just more finger pointing, remains to be seen. But for now, all eyes are on the party as it tries to clean up this political mess — if not the actual garbage that still litters the streets of Kampala.

The Real Crisis: Garbage or Political Fights?

Kampala’s Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, who belongs to the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), was quick to deny the allegations. To him, it was all a misunderstanding. “We were ready to table a report on the Kiteezi landfill disaster, but the councillors had other ideas,” he said, trying to bring some order to the chaos.

A 36 acre landfill in Wakiso collapsed in August, killing over 35 people. And here we are, squabbling over who gets to present what report. It is the kind of tragic absurdity that would make even a seasoned Ugandan boda rider shake their head in disbelief.

Lukwago, always the seasoned politician, expressed his disappointment. “The theatrics that characterized the council thwarted the process.” Theatrics is an understatement, considering that City Hall often turns into a political boxing ring. This is a verbal version of the traditional Acholi wrestling matches — only with suits and ties.

But the real fight might just be beginning. Constitutional lawyer Peter Walubiri has cliamed that the mess at City Hall is just a symptom of the bigger political disease — the opposition infighting. According to him, while the current battles might affect Lukwago personally, what’s really at stake is the bigger picture of Uganda’s fragmented opposition.

Lukwago’s political career has seen its fair share of confrontations, but this latest round of drama is straight out of the 1990s Baganda clan wrangling playbook. Back then, it was all about land; now, it’s garbage. Times may change, but the squabbles remain the same.

During his second term, Lukwago faced less opposition compared to his first, largely thanks to FDC’s majority in the council. But with Jennifer Musisi, KCCA’s first executive director, stepping down in 2018, and Dorothy Kisaka now steering the ship, it seems Lukwago finally found a more “conducive working environment.” Conducive, of course, being relative when you consider that Tuesday’s chaos left councillors more at each other’s throats than ever.

Rumors are swirling that Lukwago’s FDC faction might unite with NUP in the run up to the 2026 elections. But if Tuesday’s events are any indication, that prospect seems as likely as a boda-boda obeying traffic lights during rush hour. The alliance is shaky, and reports that NUP might field candidates against prominent FDC figures like Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda suggest that this political “unity” may be more fiction than fact.

It seems we’re in for more political drama before 2026 rolls around. The dust (and garbage) continues to pile up in Kampala. Politicians will either clean up the mess or make it worse.

Table of KCCA Political Composition