KAMPALA – In 2015, KCCA Amendment Act was tabled before the House and passed in August 2019
The amendments put in place the position of Speaker at KCCA which means an authority speaker and division speakers elected by authority and division Councillors respectively.
It also createsld an executive committee of four people selected by the Mayor to supervise the day to day work at the authority and at the division.
This week, PML Daily’s Nelson Mandela (namboolenelson@gmail.com) sits down with Hon. Maureen Tumusiime, the councillor representing Nakasero Parish one and two which includes State House at Kampala Capital City Authority Central Division, who on Wednesday, July 29 sworn-in as Executive Secretary for Gender, Community Services, Market, Education and Social Services.
Qn. Honourable Maureen, congratulations upon your appointment and what does it take for one to be in your position?
Ans. Thank you very much. First of all, I am so grateful for this achievement and as honourable councillor, am so honored. After the KCCA Amendment Act, it gave mandate, created space and powers to go back to the divisions and I am one of those who put efforts towards this for better service delivery to the community. We’re the council which spearheaded that, made proposals, submitted them to the minister, and eventually went to Parliament. I also went to the Parliament to defend the council on the same. So this created positions for Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and Executive Committee (EC) and among the EC, we have three Executive Secretaries. Today, I am so privileged that I’ve been nominated by the Mayor and approved by the council as the Executive Secretary Gender, Community Services, Market, Education and Social Services. So I am so honored and happy and I pledge to serve the council diligently.
Qn. Hon. as you pledge to serve diligently, please break for us your roles as the Executive Secretary.
Ans. First of all, as Executive Secretaries, we form Executive Committee which sits down and design budget and as per my ministry which includes gender, I shall be fighting for women, the disabled and even the vulnerable group. Markets are also under my ministry and education. I’ll be responsible for schools, the teachers and their welfare. We shall be sitting down and making budget and also to promote the social services in the community.
Qn. One would want to know who hon. Maureen is and the Constitution has set academic standards for one to stand on certain positive, what do you poses?
Ans. I am a travel consultant, an entrepreneur, and also being in the field of tourism, which has exposed me in terms of networking. So I am an elite and in terms of leadership, I’ve been an honourable councillor for the last two teams and I intend to come back in 2021, so I am eligible.
Qn. What is your political party affiliation and why do you think it’s the best you can be in to serve your people?
Ans. Thank you very much, I am an NRM member. I am yellow and proud of it. I’ve always contested on NRM ticket and I’ve won always. Because of the government programs under the leadership of NRM, we have successfully done a lot for our country. NRM as a party has groomed the youth into leadership. So they have given us chance. Secondly, the NRM party has ably allowed democracy both internal and external. We respect each other as party members apart from a few disagreements just like any other party.
Qn. Having served for two terms and still intends to come, what makes you think you’re the best candidate?
Ans. The last terms as council we haven’t been having powers to make a budget, so the last term we ensured the devolution of power to divisions, now that we have achieved, I feel that it’s now my mandate to make sure that we extend the services to people and me after the coming term I want to step down for someone else to serve.
Qn. Your ministry also engulfs education, how do you intend to improve on the education system of Uganda and help the vulnerable also access the service?
Ans. I, through my ministry, shall further promote UPE [Uganda Primary Education] and USE [Uganda Secondary Education]. We also intend, through our networking to make a budget for the schools and also make a system whereby we shall be providing scholastic materials to the vulnerable pupils and students. Secondly, as a ministry under KCCA, we shall make sure that no additional fees in government schools, UPE should be purely free. It’s also our mandate that even private schools within our area as KCCA abide by the rules.
Qn. On your 2021 candidature, following Health Ministry’s guidelines to combat Covid-19, what’s your plan to reach out to your electorates?
Ans. First of all, we’re going to conduct scientific campaigns. We’re going to follow the Ministry of Health SOPs because life is important. I for one, I shall not conduct rallies, I’ll be using media. I think it’s very necessary for us politicians to observe the SOPs and as NRM we shall adhere to that.
Qn. What do you see as the role of a leader in your position in combating unemployment among youth in Uganda?
Ans. Since the divisions have attained powers and I’ve been put in a position where I’ll be a decision-maker, we shall be making a budget. I’ll make sure that we go to communities, we shall have consultative meetings to find out what exactly is needed in the community. We shall endeavour that we help youth in different categories. We are not looking at employment, we’re looking at self-help groups, that will be my target. It is my role that the youth access the money released by the government e.g. youth fund. We also encourage them to set up something to enhance their income.
Qn. On that note, do you think that govt has done enough to capture the youth out of poverty?
Ans. The government has tried only we need to further push and put ways of accessibility. I think there’s still a vacuum somewhere of which it’s our role to ensure that the accessibility of govt money goes to the right persons. The government, before giving out the money, should first train the target beneficiaries on how to use it and also make thorough follow up to ensure that it has served the intended purpose.
Qn. Hon. Maureen, your candidate, Y.K. Museveni yesterday was nominated both NRM flag bearer and national party chairperson, what do you have to say about it?
Ans. I want to congratulate President Museveni upon his nomination and I appeal to all Ugandans to support and vote for him because he is still capable of moving Uganda forward.
Qn. As a candidate, do you poses any campaign slogan and why do you think it’s the most appealing to help you win?
Ans. My slogan in networking and prosperity.
Qn. Any last words to your electorates?
Ans. I would like to appeal to my electorates to keep safe from Covid-19 and observe the Ministry of Health SOPs. I would also want to thank them for the mandate they have given me previously and also request them to give me the mandate again to ensure that I bring the services on the ground. Thank you very much!
