A Fresh Perspective: What Sets My Candidature Apart.

As Kampala gears up for another crucial election, I believe my candidature brings a unique blend of energy, vision, and commitment to public service that sets me apart from other candidates, including Erias Lukwago whose been in office for 15 years.

Unlike Lukwago I'm not a career politician, I'm a servant willing to listen, adapt, and deliver. Here are the contrasts and key differences:

We dealing with a new generation with new ideas. My approach focuses on innovative solutions, leveraging technology, and engaging the youth in governance. I believe in community development, business growth through collaboration with others.

Collaborative leadership is a central pillar of my approach. I believe in working with diverse stakeholders, including citizens, businesses, and organizations, to build a more inclusive and prosperous Kampala.

While Lukwago has some valuable experience, I bring a fresh perspective, unencumbered by past approaches.

We also have different priorities. My focus is on better infrastructure, affordable housing, waste management, eliminating noise pollution, optimum land use and markets, education and sports which I believe are critical to Kampala's future.

Eliminating corruption is another key pillar of my priorities. Under Lukwago’s watch, City Hall is engulfed in corruption. I will tackle corruption by creating a centralised system which will be transparent and ensuring that political leaders ave technocrats are accountable. We shah recover ash stolen assets of the city especially land. We shall cancel all illegally acquired lands.

Lukwago is a high conflict personality incapable of constructive engagement with anybody. As a result, Kampala is a high conflict city. It therefore needs someone with the skills and personality to defuse the tension that has undermined service delivery for years. That person is me.

I am the new kid on the block bringing new ideas, new energy. I’m here to give hope to the helpless. As a new face in the political scene, I want to be clear: I'm not here to play politics, I'm here to get things done. With a fresh perspective and a passion for progress, I'm eager to bring positive change to our great city.

While experience is valuable, it's time for new energy and ideas. Let's look at the track record. Lukwago has had opportunities to shape policy, but what do we see? Stagnation, bureaucracy, and unfulfilled promises. After 15 years Lukwago has nothing new to offer.

Unlike Lukwago I have more exposure to cities that Kampala could benchmark. I have lived abroad, notably in England for three decades and has since returning I’m now focused on serving Kampala. Unlike Lukwago, my campaign is not based on empty populist sloganeering but rather a concrete program of action that includes improving waste management, creating jobs, and empowering women and youth with entrepreneurial skills.

Unlike Lukwago I come to City Hall fully prepared to run a City Government. With my background working for Microsoft and running a successful business importing handcrafts targeting high end customers in the UK and beyond. In the UK I served as Senior Executive Coordinator for Linde Group as well as an IT Specialist for Microsoft Reading in the United Kingdom for ten years. I believe every move I have made in the last three decades spent in England was in preparation for this moment to make a change. That is why upon return I founded The Iron Ladies Of Africa (TILOA) through which I dedicated my time to empowering and supporting women in Africa to discover their potential, be heard and occupy political seats in their communities. In addition I am a charity contributor at St. John’s Hospice a charity that looks after the terminally ill young children and the elderly.

While Lukwago is out of touch with the common people and only pays lip service to their needs, I daily rub shoulders with the ordinary people both in Kampala and Gulu. My charity work with market women in Kampala has made me a first hand witness to the daily struggles of the urban poor. In Gulu I launched Coffee Plus a program to popularize Coffee growing in Unyama Subcounty in Gulu. This has exposed me to the challenges of peri urban communities.

My focus will be on practical solutions for Kampala's challenges like improving public transport, boosting local businesses, and enhancing community services.

I'm very confident that my candidature offers a compelling alternative vision for Kampala's future. Let's work together to build a city that's vibrant, inclusive, and prosperous for all.

Beatrice Mao is a Democratic Party candidate for Kampala Lord Mayor. She grew up in Kampala, attended Trinity College, Nabbingo and Makerere High School before joining the University of Westminster London for further studies.

By Beatrice Mao