Published on 04/08/2025
Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has denied claims that it used public funds to erect billboards welcoming President Yoweri Museveni to the city for his Parish Development Model (PDM) tours.
KCCA clarified that the billboards, featuring portraits of the President and KCCA’s Executive Director, were donated by well-wishers, with no taxpayer money involved.
This statement was made during a meeting with the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE) on August 1, 2025, in response to concerns raised in the December 2024 Auditor General’s report.
The inquiry was prompted by Nakaseke Central MP Allan Mayanja, who sought clarity on the funding source for the billboards. “When you see billboards across the city saying ‘KCCA welcomes President Museveni,’ we need to know: Did KCCA finance them, and if so, from which budget?” Mayanja asked.
Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago distanced the political leadership from the issue, stating it was not discussed in the Authority’s Central Executive Committee. He noted that KCCA’s Public Accounts Committee plans to investigate independently. “This falls under the Accounting Officer’s responsibility. No executive-level discussions or approvals took place. Management must clarify any expenditures,” Lukwago said.
KCCA Executive Director Benon Kigenyi maintained that the Authority incurred no costs. “The billboards were provided free of charge. No payments were authorized, and no related transactions appear in KCCA’s accounts,” Kigenyi told the Committee.
However, MPs expressed skepticism. Bugiri Municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa questioned how such significant donations could bypass established procedures without raising accountability concerns. “Could these billboards have been erected under political pressure? Even if donated, the law requires proper disclosure for items of such value, especially under the Inspectorate of Government’s oversight,” Basalirwa argued.
He further asked, “If these billboards contained defamatory content, would KCCA still permit them as ‘donations’?” The discussion also touched on KCCA’s recent removal of political candidates’ posters and billboards during the election season, raising concerns about fairness.
Frank Rusa, KCCA’s Director of Legal Services, defended the action, asserting the Authority’s legal mandate to regulate public advertising and remove unauthorized billboards. However, Mayor Lukwago challenged this, arguing that management’s actions bypassed the Central Executive Committee and misinterpreted the law.
“Our legal team confirmed that the Physical Planning and Building Control Acts do not apply to political campaign materials in this context. Decisions on political posters must involve all stakeholders, not just party leaders,” Lukwago said.
Busiro East MP Medard Sseggona and Kasilo County MP Elijah Okupa raised concerns about excluding independent candidates from consultations. “Are independents to be ignored simply because we’re not affiliated with parties?” Okupa asked.
Sseggona criticized what he described as growing hostility toward politicians. “Why are political rallies banned while religious events proceed unchallenged? KCCA should designate specific zones for posters rather than imposing blanket restrictions,” he said, warning against targeting parties that could later assume power.
Deputy Executive Director Kigenyi defended KCCA’s actions, emphasizing safety and order. “We observed posters in hazardous locations. Our outreach to party Secretaries General aimed to promote responsible campaign material placement, not to target any group,” he said, rejecting claims of bias. “We have no ill will toward politicians—we are voters too.”
The debate underscores tensions between KCCA’s regulatory efforts and political stakeholders, with calls for greater transparency and inclusivity in managing public spaces during election periods.
