Independent candidate Abubaker Kawalya beats Segirinya and FDC’s Doreen Nyanjura to become KCCA Speaker race
Independent candidate Abubaker Kawalya has won the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Speaker race in an election held on Thursday, 5th afternoon at the City Hall in Kampala.
Abubaker Kawalya is the new KCCA Speaker
Kawalya who is also a member of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party but with strong affiliation to ‘People Power‘ scooped 17 points to see off competition from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)’s Doreen Nyanjura and another people power ally, Segirinya.
FDC’s Doreen Nyanjura got only 14 votes, three less than Kawalya while Segirinya who finished third managed only one vote.
Meanwhile, the councillors standing in for the position of speaker included Doreen Nyanjura (Makerere University), Abubaker Kawalya (Rubaga) Bruhan Byaruhanga (Kyambongo) and Muhammad Ssegirinya (Kawempe).
However, Bruhan Byaruhanga (Kyambogo) who had earlier shown interest in the speaker’s seat decided to go for deputy speaker.
Other aspiring candidates for the deputy speaker position include Doreen Sabuka (Makindye) and Alice Amongi (Nakawa).
Meanwhile, the election process was on the order paper of the meeting chaired by the Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and voting was also presided over by Buganda Road Chief Magistrate, Miriam Akello.
As the new speaker, Kawalya together with his deputy shall preside over all meetings of the Council, be charged with the overall authority for the preservation of order in the Council and ensuring the enforcement of the rules of procedure.
He will also perform functions that are similar to those of the Speaker of Parliament.
On November 28, 2019, President Museveni assented to the KCCA (Amendment) Act 2019 which under its sections 8A and 29A established the offices of Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the Authority and Division Urban Councils respectively.
Under the amended Act, the functions of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker shall be presiding over all meetings of the Council, be charged with the overall authority for the preservation of order in the Council and ensuring the enforcement of the rules of procedure of Council.
