Why Kampala becoming a smart city is a farfetched dream

That same morning, the Uganda Police Force issued a traffic warning to all motorists about some of the affected areas including those alongside Jinja Road such as Banda and Kyambogo.

These places and other spots had flooded causing a traffic stampede, thus sojourning movement within the city.

Memes of women being carried to work by men - you can choose to call them casual labourers - flooded the internet, most making fan out of the situation.

Kampala has for long had a share of its own problems. From the cholera outbreak in the late 1990s that came as a result of poor hygiene to potholes in almost every spot within the city.

Earlier, most of the blame was cast on the political leadership of the city, most arguing that politicians such as Ssebagala had done little to uplift the city’s status because of their need to please the electorate who felt development would push them out of the city.

It was a case well argued that it led to separation of the technical and political wings, thus the formation of Kampala Capital City Authority first headed by Jennifer Musisi.

Efforts to clean up the city came with a fair share of problems mostly to the KCCA technical wing management who found themselves in a catch22 situation.

The man who had earlier argued against the city being under political leadership (read the President) faulted Musisi for his poor performance in Kampala and other surrounding urban areas in the 2016 presidential elections.

Reality had struck.

Politicians work tooth and nail to impress the electorate. Putting the city in the hands of technical people didn’t in any way stop political interference in its day to day running.

Because politics plays a huge role in the lives of most citizens, its almost impossible to argue that it can be gotten rid of.

Because the President felt it was because of Musisi that he lost support in the city, he had to backtrack on his earlier plans first by getting rid of her and appointing a more accommodative executive director, one who would put into consideration his political interests.

Earlier, when KCCA under Musisi tried to get rid of street vendors, the ordinary people (street vendors, women in the markets etc.) in Kampala felt the government was not being considerate.

The opposition led by city mayor Erias Lukwago took advantage and demonised Government and the President, which perhaps could have led to the drop-in support of Museveni.

Kampala can never become a smart city not because we don’t have the people to turn it into one, but because of how the inhabitants of the city perceive growth and development.

Any action by any leader to improve the city has to put into consideration how the ordinary person feels, which at times may not be necessary mostly when you are making a decision that would uplift the city status.