Newly sworn-in Kampala Lord Mayor, Ronald Balimwezo, has said the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) will not demolish houses built without approved architectural plans but will instead encourage owners to regularise their properties.
Balimwezo made the remarks while speaking to journalists at Parliament, where he had gone to visit his former colleagues.
He said KCCA had in the past mainly approved buildings constructed on land with secure tenure, adding that many property owners in Kampala had houses without approved plans.
“KCCA only used to approve properties with security of tenure. Even my own house has no approved plan. However, we shall not demolish such houses,” Balimwezo said.
The lord mayor revealed that he had completed payment for the land on which his house is built and would now redraw the building plan according to the existing structure before submitting it to KCCA for approval.
He said his administration would focus on creating an inclusive, smart, walkable and happy city through engagement with different stakeholders.
Balimwezo added that he would soon convene a stakeholders’ meeting to discuss the future development of Kampala.
He dismissed claims that the office of the lord mayor lacks authority, arguing that the position still plays a central role in organising city activities, which are later implemented by the Executive Director and KCCA technical teams.
Balimwezo said his experience in leadership, beginning from the position of LC 1 chairperson, had prepared him for the role.
“I will be the custodian of all KCCA strategic plans, which will then be implemented by the relevant city directorates at City Hall,” he said.
He also pledged to encourage city residents to redraw and submit legitimate architectural plans for their buildings instead of facing demolition.
He promised to improve public schools and health facilities in Kampala using the authority’s Shs718.3 billion budget.
On garbage management, Balimwezo said his administration had already discussed a new strategy known as EKT, which he said had been successfully implemented in Brazil and Uruguay.
However, it remains unclear whether Balimwezo will fully implement his agenda under the existing KCCA Act, which significantly reduced the powers of the lord mayor and vested more authority in the office of the executive director.
