Last week, there were reports that Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) enforcement officers arrested and harassed NTV journalist Francis Jjingo.
According to the reports, the newsman was filming the KCCA personnel who were arresting vendors at an unorthodox hour, well beyond their scheduled operation time.
Since the establishment of the KCCA the behavior of these enforcement officials has caused discomfort among many city dwellers because of the tactless approaches they employ while carrying out their duties.
These so-called Kanyamas act like a brutal gang of extortionists, who will stop at nothing to ensure they get an extra buck at the expense of the hapless vendors and other vulnerable city dwellers.
So, when confronted by someone they think is knowledgeable and capable of adducing ‘hard evidence’ regarding their dubious activities, the Kanyamas turn to violence as a way of proving their ‘relevance’ in as far as management of the city is concerned.
Indeed, it is unfortunate the KCCA enforcement personnel have become a menace and continue behaving as if they are above the law.
Some time back the same chaps arrested a lady vendor and because of their unprofessional conduct, she lost her baby, two-year old Ryan Ssemaganda.
They seem to have learnt nothing from this despicable occurrence that took place just at the tip of their noses, and they continue abusing the rights of the city dwellers with reckless abandon!
In fact, most people in the city have become weary of these thuggish men and women and now wonder how they are recruited.
That said, the Authority should strengthen its internal mechanisms to ensure that the enforcement personnel are well supervised and trained.
That way, the KCCA will be able to weed out the bad apples that are subjecting the Authority to ridicule.
Case rested.
