By KT Reporter
Smart City Ambassadors from all five divisions of Kampala have raised concerns over inadequate street lighting, poor waste management, and a shortage of public toilets, particularly in the city’s suburbs.
The concerns were voiced during a meeting convened by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) at Kitante Primary School on Saturday, which brought together more than 2,600 volunteer city ambassadors.
Allen Namuyomba, a Smart City Ambassador from Namuwongo, noted that most KCCA-installed street lights are concentrated on major roads, leaving many community and feeder roads in darkness.
She said this lack of lighting has contributed to increased insecurity in the city’s outskirts and urged the authority to install security lights in crime-prone areas. She also called for more public toilets, suggesting that unclaimed land left after road construction could be used for this purpose.
“Amataala gano gavaayo nga gali ku main roads kyokka wano tewetaaga,” Namuyomba said.Abdul Kiyimba, a resident of Kibuye I Parish in Makindye Division, highlighted the poor garbage management in his area, explaining that private garbage collection trucks operate only once a week while KCCA’s own trucks rarely appear.“Naye mukama wange, tetuliwa ku mukago ogwo nga ba ambassadors,” Kiyimba said.George Owundo, also from Namuwongo, commended KCCA for road improvements but stressed the need for street lights along newly constructed roads to enable residents to safely conduct business at night.“Mwebale tukolera ku road, naye tuzze amataala ku kunguudo zabwe,” Owundo noted.The ambassadors further raised concerns about stray dogs, which pose a danger to children, as well as the presence of dead animals left in public areas, causing foul smells and health hazards.KCCA Executive Director Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki explained that Smart City Ambassadors are voluntary representatives from villages across Kampala. Their role is to help communicate KCCA projects, strategic plans, and achievements to residents while providing feedback on community challenges. She emphasized that city development is a shared responsibility and urged ambassadors to continue reporting issues.On remuneration and facilitation concerns raised by the ambassadors, Buzeki stated that these matters would be addressed at City Hall, and issues beyond KCCA’s mandate would be forwarded to President Yoweri Museveni for guidance.“Nensonga zemumpadde eziri ku mirimu gy’oku village, tugisalira amagezi,” she said.The meeting was also attended by the Minister for Kampala, Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, who encouraged ambassadors to vote wisely in the upcoming elections.
She urged them to support President Museveni, herself, and other National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearers, while opposing protest voting promoted by the opposition, and maintaining peace before, during, and after the elections.
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