KAWEMPE, Kampala (UGNEWSLINE) – The Speaker of Kawempe Division Urban Council, Eng. Daniel Kigozi Mayombwe, has led councillors in unanimously resolving to use dialogue to address political disagreements in the interest of the new council.
Mayombwe made the remarks on October 6, 2026, during the first ordinary council session under the 2026–2031 elective political mandate, held at the division’s new council chamber.
He recalled former Kawempe North Member of Parliament Mubarak Munyagwa for initiating a national conflict-resolution dialogue mechanism that promoted amicable ways of resolving disputes without resorting to litigation.
Mayombwe said the new council is facing high political tensions, partly due to ongoing election petition proceedings, warning that such tensions could undermine meaningful participation in council affairs.
He urged councillors to embrace dialogue and other conflict-resolution mechanisms whenever disagreements arise.
The councillors began the session with presentations of committee reports, which were presented by the respective committee chairpersons and later approved by the council.
Among the key issues raised for political and government intervention were garbage collection, sanitation, education, health, the environment, security and financing. The councillors appealed for increased funding to enable the division to address these challenges.
Garbage collection
One of the major issues debated was the reported failure by the division to provide trucks for garbage collection and disposal.
Kawempe Division Town Clerk Geoffrey Rwakabare explained that the division has only five garbage trucks and an annual budget of Shs38 million for garbage collection, which he said was insufficient to serve all the 105 villages in the division.
“My response to the complaints about the reported failure to collect garbage from parishes is not a deliberate matter or strategy. It is a technical issue because we have a shortage of garbage trucks required to clear the backlog,” Rwakabare said.
He explained that the five trucks operate on a rotational schedule covering the entire division, while the available budget remains limited.
Rwakabare added that low-income residents who cannot afford private garbage collection services have to keep their waste until a free KCCA truck reaches their respective parishes.
He said the division has also contracted U-Waste in Kawempe North and Hilltop in Kawempe South to provide garbage collection services. Under the arrangement, households in informal settlements pay Shs1,000 for a 50-kilogramme bag of garbage, while institutions such as schools, places of worship and markets pay Shs40,000 per month.
Rwakabare appealed to the government to provide additional garbage trucks to help the division clear the growing backlog.
Speaker Mayombwe supported the call and urged urban ward administrators to work closely with local council leaders to sensitise residents about proper garbage disposal.
Roads, drainage and youth concerns
Jjingo Enock, chairperson of the Committee on Human Resources, Administration and Works and councillor for Makerere III Parish, highlighted several challenges identified by his committee, including the need to improve the road network and drainage systems.
He said addressing these challenges would improve social services and contribute to the economic wellbeing of residents and government.
Meanwhile, Rose Kaitesi, chairperson of the Public Health and Environment Committee and woman councillor for Mulago III Parish, expressed concern over the increasing number of idle young people involved in drug abuse, alcoholism and other activities suspected to be linked to crime.
She said parents have a major responsibility in guiding and supporting their children.
Kaitesi called on the Division Gender Officer and her team to conduct community sensitisation campaigns targeting parents and encouraging them to send their children to school.
Councillors demand benchmarking trips
Tension also emerged during the session when several councillors demanded that the Town Clerk provide funds for proposed benchmarking trips to Lira and Mbarara.
The councillors said the trips would enable them to learn how other urban councils manage their affairs and strengthen their capacity to serve residents.
However, Rwakabare said his office did not have the necessary resources to finance the proposed trips, a position that angered some councillors who challenged him to find ways of securing the funds.
Speaker Mayombwe tasked the Town Clerk to engage KCCA authorities at City Hall to explore possibilities of funding the trips.
He said the benchmarking exercises were important because they would equip councillors with knowledge and skills needed to strengthen their mandate, including mobilising residents to pay taxes.
Following the councillors’ demands, Rwakabare pledged to forward the matter to City Hall for consideration.
