The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has cancelled this year’s annual event and chosen to focus on implementing projects in education and health centres with the aim of improving lives of the people in Kampala.
This was revealed by the KCCA Executive Director, Jenifer Musisi while addressing the media on Wednesday at the KCCA headquarters in Kampala.
“We hereby wish to inform the general public that Kampala City Carnival public activities earlier scheduled for Friday 5th to 7th October 2018 has been cancelled,” said Musisi.
When pressed by reporters to confirm if next year’s event will take place, Musisi remained non-committal.
This street party that has taken place for the past seven years has always been financially sponsored by different organizations, media houses, schools, individuals and churches and the same sponsors are willing to continue with the support as KCCA switches from organising the October festival to removing residual asbestos roofs and constructing maternity wards at KCCA Kiswa health centre in Nakawa division.
Musisi said the street traders that had already paid for space in the carnival will be reimbursed.
‘Payments made by traders for street trading spaces on those days will be refunded on production of proof of payments’ the executive director emphasised.
Musisi said the KCCA will focus efforts on removing asbestos roofs starting with Nakivubo blue and Nakivubo settlement primary schools at an estimated cost of UGX1.9 billion.
Musisi revealed that KCCA agreed to contribute UGX2000 every week in a campaign dubbed 2k campaign to provide money for the social projects.
Observers however argue that the dramatic change of events could have been triggered by President Museveni’s critical stance towards the leadership of KCCA and Jennifer Musisi in particular.
While officiating at the passing out of thousands of youth who graduated in vocational skills at Kololo a few weeks ago, Museveni attacked Musisi for always ‘showing off her butt instead of cleaning Kampala.
