KCCA HOSTS IFTAH DINNER AS LORD MAYOR LUKWAGO REFLECTS ON 15 YEARS OF SERVICE

The Kampala Lord Mayor Hajji Erias Lukwago hosted a special Iftah dinner at the Kampala Capital City Authority Gardens on Thursday evening, bringing together Muslim leaders, community members and city officials to break the fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

The annual gathering, which has become a tradition during Lukwago’s tenure as Lord Mayor, offered Muslim faithful an opportunity to share a meal at sunset after a day of fasting, prayer and reflection.

In Islam, Iftah (or Iftar) marks the moment Muslims end their daily fast at sunset during Ramadan. The meal symbolizes gratitude, unity and compassion, while reminding believers of the importance of charity and caring for the less fortunate.

Speaking during the dinner, Lukwago reflected on his 15 years of service leading the city and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve.“I leave City Hall with pride and with my head held high. Allah gave me the opportunity to lead this city and I am very grateful to God. I am happy and I will remain grateful,” Lukwago said.

He noted that leadership is defined not by how long one stays in office but by the impact and legacy they leave behind.

“Whenever you go to public office, you wait for the day you will leave. What is important is what you do and the legacy you leave,” he said.

Lukwago pledged to remain engaged in the development of the city even after leaving office.

“I will remain a stakeholder and continue contributing to the development of this city,” he added, urging city leaders to maintain the tradition of hosting Iftah dinners for the Muslim community.

“Let this tradition of celebrating Iftah dinner remain,” he said.

The Deputy Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority, Benon Kigenyi, commended the Lord Mayor for fostering unity and recognizing the Muslim community during Ramadan.

Kigenyi reaffirmed KCCA’s commitment to making Kampala a better and more livable city for all residents through infrastructure development, improved mobility and restoring order in trade across the capital.

“We remain committed to building a city that works for everyone through continued infrastructure investment and better organization of trade in the city,” he said.

The chief guest Shiekh Ibrahim Ssekagya, the District Kadth of Kampala praised KCCA’s ongoing efforts to restore order in the city’s trading spaces but urged the authority to place greater emphasis on preventing illegal trading before it happens.

“Do not wait for people to come onto the road before acting. Focus more on ensuring people do not begin trading in illegal places in the first place,” the chief guest advised.

The dinner ended with prayers and messages of peace to Muslims observing Ramadan, with leaders encouraging faithful to use the holy month to strengthen faith, show kindness to others and work together for the good of the city.

For many Muslim attendees, the evening served not only as a moment of breaking the fast but also as a celebration of unity, reflection and shared responsibility in building a better Kampala.

By Geofrey Mutegeki Araali

Communication and Media Relations Officer