KCCA TELLS MPs WHY OUTDOOR ADVERTISING REVENUE REMAINS UNCOLLECTED

Members of Parliament on the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) have backed Kampala Capital City Authority’s efforts to resolve outstanding issues surrounding outdoor advertising revenue, which the Authority has not collected since 2020.

The legislators made the call on Wednesday when KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki appeared before the committee to respond to issues raised by the Auditor General in the Authority’s 2024/2025 audit.

The committee questioned why KCCA was not collecting revenue from outdoor advertisers despite the growing number of billboards, digital screens and other advertising structures across Kampala.

Hon. Bumali Mpindi said he was surprised that the dispute had continued for so long, arguing that it should be treated as a matter of national importance.

He said advertisers should not continue collecting money from businesses while the city authority misses out on revenue due to it.

Mpindi called for an administrative solution involving the relevant institutions, including the Judiciary, to enable KCCA resume revenue collection.

COSASE Deputy Chairperson George Musisi also called for support for KCCA to resolve the outstanding issues.

Responding to the MPs, Buzeki explained that the gap was largely a result of a prolonged legal process surrounding the regulation and charging of outdoor advertising fees.

“Outdoor is a journey. We have been moving between court and now. We have not been collecting revenue since April 2020,” Buzeki told the committee.

She explained that KCCA had previously been collecting outdoor advertising fees before the National Outdoor Advertising Contractors Association (NOACA) challenged the charges in court.

Following the 2020 court ruling, KCCA worked through its Authority Council and in consultation with the Solicitor General to establish a proper legal framework for outdoor advertising. This resulted in the Kampala Capital City (Outdoor Advertising) Ordinance, 2025.

However, when KCCA moved to implement the new rates under the ordinance, NOACA again challenged the rates in court.

In September 2025, the High Court upheld KCCA’s legal mandate to regulate outdoor advertising and charge fees under the ordinance, but suspended implementation of some of the new rates after finding that some of the increases were unreasonable.

Buzeki said KCCA subsequently agreed with the advertisers to review the rates with their input.

“We agreed with them to a consent judgment and agreed to review the rates with their input. We have fast-tracked this exercise,” she said.

The Authority Council has since passed revised rates, which are due to be forwarded to the Solicitor General for approval.

The new rates are structured according to factors including the size, location and type of advertising structure, as well as the duration for which the advertisement is displayed.

Buzeki described outdoor advertising as a potentially significant source of revenue for KCCA, particularly as the number and sophistication of advertising structures in the city continues to grow.

“Since 2020, KCCA has not been getting revenue from outdoor advertising. We need to quickly pass it so that we get this revenue as the Authority,” she said, urging Parliament to support efforts to provide a clear legal framework for the sector.

She said the revenue would strengthen KCCA’s ability to finance city services and infrastructure

Buzeki appeared before the committee accompanied by KCCA directors and other technical staff.

KCCA clears Kiteezi compensation

Buzeki also updated MPs on compensation for victims of the Kiteezi landfill collapse.

She said all victims had been paid except one person who is out of the country and whose details are yet to be fully clarified.

She explained that KCCA does not determine the compensation amounts, which are assessed by the Government Valuer based on the value of the affected property.

Buzeki further told the committee that land for the new waste management facility has been fully paid for, marking progress in KCCA’s efforts to establish a safer and more sustainable waste management system.

KCCA boosts garbage collection

On waste management, Buzeki said KCCA had commenced procurement of 10 additional garbage collection trucks and increased the number of private companies contracted to collect waste across Kampala to nine.

The companies have been zoned across the city to improve coverage and collection efficiency.

The private waste collectors have a combined fleet of 141 trucks, with capacity to collect about 1,669 tonnes of garbage daily.

KCCA’s fleet adds another 500 tonnes, bringing the combined collection capacity to about 2,169 tonnes per day.

With Kampala generating about 2,000 tonnes of garbage daily, Buzeki said the expanded capacity puts the Authority in a stronger position to keep pace with waste generated across the city.

She said the additional trucks, expanded private-sector participation and zoning of waste collectors were part of KCCA’s broader efforts to improve cleanliness and strengthen service delivery.

By Geofrey Mutegeki Araali

Communicationa and Media Relations Officer