Outgoing Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has formally handed over office to his successor, Ronald Balimwezo, ending a turbulent 15-year tenure at City Hall that was characterised by political confrontations, institutional power struggles, and battles over the governance of Uganda’s capital.
In an emotional farewell address delivered at City Hall on Monday afternoon, Mr Lukwago described his leadership journey as difficult but principled, saying his administration remained committed to protecting the interests of Kampala residents despite persistent challenges.
“My city stewardship remained unwaveringly intentional in the pursuit of a seismic shift in leadership,” Mr Lukwago said, outlining six pillars that guided his administration, including corporate governance, accountability, equity and social justice, prudent budgeting, proper urban planning, and promotion of Kampala as an investment and tourism hub.
Mr Lukwago, who first entered City Hall politics as Kampala Central Member of Parliament in 2006 before becoming the pioneer Lord Mayor under the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) structure in 2011, said his tenure had been the most tumultuous in the history of the city’s leadership.
“It has not been a walk in the park,” he said. “Out of all the mayors who have led Kampala since its inception, I may have had the most tumultuous tenure.”
The outgoing Lord Mayor blamed many of the challenges on the enactment of the KCCA Act, which he said fundamentally altered the governance structure of Kampala and created overlapping mandates between elected leaders and technocrats.
According to Mr Lukwago, successive central government officials undermined the authority of elected city leaders through excessive intervention in city affairs and presidential directives.
“The governance of Kampala has regrettably witnessed direct control and intervention by the President in almost all sectors,” he said, arguing that the arrangement weakened council oversight and reduced the powers of elected representatives.
Throughout his tenure, Mr Lukwago was involved in several high-profile political and legal battles, including clashes with former KCCA executive directors, disputes over the management of city markets, and disagreements over urban planning and service delivery.
Despite the confrontations, he defended his legacy, saying his administration had remained steadfast in protecting public assets from what he termed “elite cartels” seeking to grab city markets, schools, wetlands, and drainage channels.
“It is by the grace of the Lord that I survived battles over public assets like Nakasero Market, Park Yard Market, and Nakivubo Channel,” he said.
Mr Lukwago also cited corruption, poor urban planning, flooding, and underfunding as some of the major obstacles that frustrated efforts to transform Kampala into a modern city.
As he handed over the office, he outlined several priorities for the incoming administration, including amendment of the KCCA Act, streamlining the governance structure of the city, reconstruction of roads and drainage systems, modernization of health facilities, expansion of street lighting, and development of Kampala into a commercial and lakefront city.
“There is a need to push for reforms that will create a leaner and more efficient city administration capable of delivering services effectively,” he said.
He further called on the central government to increase budget allocations to Kampala, arguing that the capital contributes significantly to Uganda’s economy but remains inadequately funded.
“To achieve the goal of revitalising Kampala into a well-functioning, resilient and inclusive city, there must be bold reforms,” he added.
Mr Balimwezo assumes office at a time when Kampala continues to grapple with rapid urbanisation, traffic congestion, flooding, poor waste management, and long-running governance disputes that have shaped City Hall politics for more than a decade.
The incoming Lord Mayor is expected to face pressure to improve service delivery while navigating the complex political and administrative structure established under the KCCA Act.
