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By Ben Musanje
Former Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Acting Executive Director Eng. Andrew Kitaka has been appointed Chairperson of the Governing Board of the National Building Review Board following Cabinet approval.
The appointment was announced by the Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Justine Kasule Lumumba, while briefing journalists at the Uganda media Centre on the resolutions of the Cabinet meeting held on Monday, July 6, 2026.
Lumumba said the approved board comprises Eng. Andrew Kitaka as chairperson, RSU Irene Kitara, architect Henry Kiggundu, PP Irene Achola, Ben Yiga, engineer Chris Opuch, Richard Adrole and engineer Betty Nabbosa as members.
The National Building Review Board, established under the Building Control Act, operates under the Ministry of Works and Transport and is mandated to regulate and coordinate building control activities across Uganda.
The appointment marks Kitaka’s return to a high-profile public leadership role nearly six years after leaving City Hall.
Kitaka exited KCCA on October 31, 2020, bringing to an end a nine-year stint at the authority that began on November 1, 2011.
He was appointed Acting Executive Director in December 2018 following the resignation of Jennifer Musisi, who left KCCA to become the first City Leader in Residence at the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, a collaboration between Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Business School and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Kitaka served as acting executive director until June 2020 when President Yoweri Museveni appointed Dorothy Kisaka as the substantive Executive Director of KCCA, a decision widely interpreted at the time as a vote of no confidence in Kitaka. He subsequently returned to his previous position as Director of Engineering and Technical Services before eventually leaving the authority.
Cabinet approves Food and Agriculture Regulatory Authority Bill
During the same briefing, Lumumba announced that Cabinet had approved the Food and Agriculture Regulatory Authority Bill, 2026, describing it as the item that occupied most of Cabinet’s deliberations.
She said the proposed law seeks to consolidate regulatory responsibilities currently shared between the National Drug Authority (NDA) and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS).
Under the Bill, regulation of veterinary medicines, veterinary medical devices, vaccines, veterinary cosmetics, laboratory supplies and reagents, agricultural chemicals, food and animal feeds would be transferred to the proposed Food and Agriculture Regulatory Authority under the Ministry of Agriculture.
Lumumba explained that while the National Drug Authority currently regulates medicines for both humans and animals and UNBS oversees food standards, the new law seeks to place agriculture-related regulatory functions under one institution. The authority will also regulate the fisheries sector.
According to the minister, the proposed legislation is expected to improve the safety of food, animal feeds, plants and the environment while ensuring that agricultural and veterinary inputs placed on the market meet the required quality and safety standards.
She said the Bill is also intended to enhance Uganda’s agricultural and food exports by enabling producers to meet local, regional and international market standards.
Other anticipated benefits include improved human, plant and animal health, increased consumer confidence, greater access to regional and global markets, higher incomes for actors across the agricultural value chain, stronger protection against counterfeit products and a more resilient food system.
Cabinet notes evacuation of Ugandans from South Africa
Cabinet also received an update on the repatriation of Ugandan nationals from South Africa.
Lumumba said Cabinet noted that 560 Ugandans had so far been evacuated following escalating xenophobic violence. She added that efforts were continuing to facilitate the return of more Ugandans willing to come home, while emphasizing that those affected remain free to decide whether to return or remain in South Africa.
Government launches Swahili initiative, anthem competition
Marking International Swahili Day, Lumumba announced the launch of “Dawati La Kiswahili” at the Uganda Media Centre to promote the learning and adoption of Swahili.
She reminded journalists that while English is Uganda’s official language, Swahili is recognized under the Constitution as the country’s second official language, urging members of the Fourth Estate to take advantage of the programme.
The minister also announced that government will on Friday launch the “Sauti Ya Uganda” National Anthem Competition.
She said the competition will invite participation from institutions and individuals, with winners receiving prizes. The initiative, she added, is aimed at deepening public understanding of the national anthem while identifying and nurturing talented voices capable of delivering outstanding renditions of Uganda’s national anthem. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
