Nup’s Mayor Bamu Lulenzi Wins Big As Iganga’s Face Change In 5years Term -More Billions Added As Road Funds.

By Obbo Yusuf

Iganga Municipality has received a significant financial boost, with UGX 1,295,188,152 allocated by the Ministry of Works and Transport under the Rehabilitation of Selected Community Access Roads program.

According to Mayor Bamu Lulenzi Richard, the funds will be utilized by M/S Continuum Engineering Ltd to rehabilitate various roads in the municipality — a move he says will reshape the image of Iganga town for the better.

Mayor Lulenzi expressed his gratitude to the central government for the support extended to Iganga. He credited the success to the decision to put aside political differences and work collaboratively with government agencies, particularly his technical team led by the town clerk, to deliver better services to the community through effective lobbying.

USMID Program Set to Launch in Iganga

The mayor also confirmed that Iganga has been approved for the USMID (Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development) program, thanks to the efforts of Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga.

“We have been officially approved under the USMID program. Mapping is complete, and we are about to begin. The program comes with a comprehensive package of services for our people,” said Lulenzi.

He noted that the program had been delayed by resistance from what he described as “selfish politicians.”

“We would be much further if we had leaders who genuinely cared about this town. Unfortunately, some of them are more interested in serving themselves than the people. It took the intervention of Hon. Kadaga to finally move things forward,” he added.

Achievements in Office Since 2021

Since taking office in 2021, Mayor Lulenzi has spearheaded several initiatives aimed at transforming Iganga:

• Waste Management: Iganga faced a major garbage crisis when he assumed office. He participated in voluntary clean-up exercises with his team and eventually brought in Homekline Garbage Company, which has since greatly improved waste collection in the town and market centers.
• Greening the Town: He launched a town-wide tree-planting campaign, significantly improving the municipality’s environment.
• Street Lighting: Collaborating with various district stakeholders, Lulenzi oversaw the installation of solar street lights in several areas, eliminating darkness and improving safety.
• Revenue Growth: Local revenue collection has surged under his leadership, rising from UGX 200 million to 800 million, with a target of UGX 1 billion in the current financial year. This has been made possible by encouraging new investments and developing vacant spaces, leading to the construction of lockups that now contribute to local taxes and licenses.

Ongoing Challenges

Despite the successes, Mayor Lulenzi noted key challenges hindering progress:

• Delayed By-law Approvals: The failure of the Attorney General’s office to approve critical by-laws has left the municipality without proper legal tools to manage stray animals, illegal waste disposal, trespassing, and green space protection.

Eyeing Parliament

With his term nearing its end, Mayor Lulenzi has announced his intention to run for Member of Parliament for Iganga Municipality. He says the decision was inspired by what he calls a “clear leadership gap” at the parliamentary level.

“In my time as mayor, I’ve seen firsthand how much more could be done with effective representation. Unfortunately, our current MP has failed to advocate for this constituency over the past 15 years. I believe I can fill that gap,” Lulenzi concluded.