By Ben Musanje
The Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Minsa Kabanda, has proposed an increase in the remuneration of political leaders serving at Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and division levels, following a request from KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki.
In a letter dated September 29, 2026, addressed to the Executive Director of KCCA, Kabanda said she was proposing that an additional 15 per cent increase in remuneration for political leaders be implemented beginning this financial year.
The proposal follows communication from KCCA dated June 15, 2026, in which the authority requested an increase in remuneration for political leaders at both the Authority and division levels.
Minister Kabanda said KCCA had pointed to the increased and expanded responsibilities of political leaders following the merger of electoral areas, which has resulted in leaders representing larger areas and constituencies.
“In your communication, you note the increased/expanded responsibilities of these leaders because of the merged electoral areas that they now are responsible for,” Kabanda said in the letter.
The minister also referred to an earlier decision in June 2017, when an increase in the remuneration of political leaders was sanctioned.
According to Kabanda, 30 per cent had been approved at the time, but only half of the approved increment was eventually implemented.
“You also note the sanctioning of the increase of the remuneration by my predecessor (June 2017), where out of the 30% approved, only 15% was effected,” she said.
Kabanda is now proposing that the remaining 15 per cent be effected in the current financial year, effectively completing the increment that had been approved in 2017.
The proposed adjustment would affect political leaders at both KCCA Authority and division levels, including councillors and other elected leaders whose responsibilities have expanded following changes to electoral areas.
The minister’s communication was copied to the Minister of State for Kampala Capital City, the Lord Mayor, all division mayors and all division speakers.
The letter does not state the current monetary remuneration received by the political leaders or specify the exact amount each category would receive if the additional 15 per cent is implemented. It also does not indicate the total financial implication of the proposed adjustment.
The proposal comes as KCCA political leaders continue to operate under an expanded administrative and electoral structure, with the authority responsible for governance and service delivery across Kampala’s divisions.
The proposed increase will therefore have to be considered within the relevant government administrative and financial processes before implementation.
Kabanda’s letter formally communicates her support for effecting the outstanding 15 per cent and places the proposal within the context of the responsibilities currently carried by KCCA and division political leaders.
The development follows Buzeki’s June request to the ministry seeking improved remuneration for the elected leaders, citing changes in their responsibilities and the earlier government-sanctioned increment.
If implemented, the proposal would mean that the full 30 per cent remuneration increase approved in 2017 would have been effected, albeit in two stages separated by several years. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
