Maverick outgoing Kampala City Lord Mayor Ssalongo Erias Lukwago has challenged the Leader of Opposition in Parliament and other elected Members of Parliament and councilors to join him in the fight against the ongoing harassment of city dwellers.
“Even holding a press conference or making a statement on the floor of parliament dismissing the illegal actions of on our people will be enough, why are all of you silent on this!” Lukwago said.
He boasted of how he has been telling people of Kampala that he is their shield and many thought that he was playing politics and accusing him of being against development noting that he has been going through a lot to fight for the rights of city dwellers and his efforts have helped them to still be operating their different businesses in Kampala city.
He claims that in Kampala city, there is a cartel of ruthless people working for members of the Deep State who want to control the entire city and they fought to make sure that he is defeated in the 2026 general election that is why before he even hands over office to his successor, they have already started executing their maiden plan of removing poor people from the city.
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“Kampala currently has ten MPs mostly from the opposition but no one can make a statement against the ongoing harassment, because they are scared of the mighty cartel. But for me I will fight until the day I hand over the office,” Lukwago said
On Tuesday morning, Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi’s CBS radio interviewed Zahara Luyirika the outgoing Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) council speaker who won the Makindye west MP seat on how her council can help traders in Owino market who lost their merchandises during the controversial demolition of part of the market at night, she responded that she was not aware that the market was demolished.
One of the NUP MP elects told this reporter that the reason why they are scared is because they are lacking guidance from their party top leaders on how to deal with the situation noting that their party president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) is in hiding fearing for his life and arrest.
He stated that a number of their grassroot mobilizers are in prison while others are in hiding including party leaders like John Marry Ssebuufu, Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi and they are now living cautiously because participating in active opposition politics currently can cost their political career and they get imprisoned or their victory in the recent election overturned.
He added that it was a painful struggle for them to even be declared winners, and at a certain stage, members of the Deep State were asked for help.
So, disturbing their business interests currently in the city is very dangerous.
“They have everything, they even control judges, so to avoid stupid election petitions, we decided to go silent. Lukwago has nothing to lose but for us, we invested a lot in those campaigns,” he said.
He advised other elected leaders not to put their bodies on the line fighting for the voters because Kampala people are like a wave, they support those with money because they are desperate and need money to survive hence they will do nothing when their leaders rot in prison.
He gave the example of Dr Kizza Besigye and Muhammad Ssegirinya.
Prominent human rights lawyer Nicholas Opio through his X handle noted that he is always sceptical of performative Kampala leaders who dramatize their work as though seeking public applause.
“If you are doing such an excellent job, it will show without influencer hiring, public posturing, etc. It is the reason I suspect KCCA’s new leadership is deceptive. I pray I am wrong, as I have been on numerous occasions,” Opio stated
This reporter understands that campaigns for a number of opposition leaders in Kampala were funded by members of the Deep State with the aim of controlling them as they push their business interests in the capital city.
It should be remembered that Kampala minister Hajat Minsa Kabanda revealed that NUP councilors guided president Museveni on allowing Kiggundu to build a top Nakivubo drainage channel after being compromised as Lukwago protesting the deal.
