Kampala City Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has urged mayors and municipal leaders to leverage their collective strengths through organizations such as the Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS in Africa (AMICAALL) to advocate for increased funding from the Central Government. He emphasized their crucial role in the implementation of healthcare, education, and the national transformation agenda.
These comments were made during his opening address at the Urban Leaders Forum and General Assembly for AMICAALL, themed “Urban Leadership: A Key Force for Development and Building Resilient Communities” held at the Pope Paul Memorial Hotel in Kampala.
Lukwago highlighted that urban areas are facing not only the ongoing challenges of HIV/AIDS but also a rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) attributed to various factors, including deteriorating air quality.
He encouraged urban authorities to initiate tree planting and establish urban forests as a means to mitigate air pollution.
In Kampala, he announced plans to plant trees to enhance the city’s green spaces, stating that the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) is working to secure land for this initiative. The assembly was attended by mayors, local government technical teams, partner organizations, and the Minister of Local Government, who concluded the assembly.