The district council passed a resolution to throw out the executive committee members on February 18, 2022, accusing them of secretly passing a supplementary budget worth over 1.5 billion Shillings without involving the councillors.
According to Godfrey Kimbugwe, the Rakai District Community Development Officer-CDO, various communities across the district especially in hard-to-reach communities such as Kacheera, Kyarulangira, Ntantamuki town council, are still ignorant about the program.
A letter dated March 1, 2022, addressed to William Mamara, the Rakai Chief Administrative Officer, by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary –Benjamin Kumumanya, indicates that Magyezi seeks to meet the district council to deliberate on the same issue for the good of the district.
The decision to censure the officials follows a petition signed by 16 out of 34 councilors accusing the members of alleged abuse of office, withholding information about the budget, and misconduct. The executive members are accused of passing a supplementary budget of 1.5 Billion Shillings without the knowledge of the councilors.
17 out of 34 councilors have petitioned the District Council Speaker seeking to censure the committee members for misconduct. The members are Samuel Kaggwa Ssekamwa, the Rakai LCV Chairperson, Patrick Nuwabine Karakwende, the LCV Vice-Chairperson, and Secretary for production, Chris Lujumba, the Secretary for Finance, Esther Mugarura, the Secretary for Health and Gender, and Derrick Tusubira, the Secretary for Education.
Yasin Mwanje, the Kateera LCI chairperson says they suspect that he was on his way home when he staggered and fell in the pit where he died. The men who were contracted to dig the pit had gone to check on its status following a heavy rain when they saw Rwaheru's body. They notified residents who immediately invited police to the scene.
According to Ssaku, the elections collided with his examinations, which couldn’t enable him to stay around for the voting. He, however, says that he counted on his trusted agents and party leaders to help him in his absentia.
Joseph Mwebe, the Presiding Officer Kifamba Sub County, attributed the delay to a lack of voters. He said that the polling officials and voting materials were delivered earlier, but voting could not start.
According to the affected residents and local leaders, their hope for the lake to return has reduced since the water has kept on diminishing. They say that more than 50 cows and 40 pigs have died due to lack of water.
According to Alex Kiweewa, a Senior Four student, he is depending on his parents for financial support after spending the little money he had made from selling his agricultural produces.
Sylvia Kyohairwe Tegyeza, the Rakai District Returning Officer Tegyeza asked the candidates and their supporters to adhere to the COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures-SOPs and refrain from acts of violence.
The by-election will be conducted for the Kifamba Male Youth Councilor position which fell vacant following the death of Augustine Jaggwe of National Unity Platform-NUP who died in a car accident. The other position is for the Female Elderly Representative for Lwentulege Town council, PWD which is vacant following the death of Regina Nambooze.
Sylvia Tegyeza, the Rakai District Registrar, said that the aspirants were ready with their nomination forms, but were yet to be stamped by the Chief Magistrate Patrick Kityo who was not in the office.
There are four vacant positions in the district which include the Male Youth Councilor for Kifamba sub-county, Female representative for the Elderly in Lwentulege Town council, the female councillor for Persons with Disabilities for Lwamaggwa Town council, and Female representative for the Elderly in Mweruka Town Council.
In his January 21, 2021 petition addressed to the Electoral Commission chairperson through the District Registrar, Bajjungu claims that ballot papers in two boxes from Kiteredde polling station in Kibanda sub-county and Kitogota polling station in Kiziba sub-county were not counted.
Enoch Ssenkaayi, the Presiding Officer and Maria Namuddu, the polling assistant at Lugalama Catholic polling station confirmed the incident, saying the pre-ticked ballots had not reached the boxes since the suspects were arrested in time.
The agent, only identified as Deus, was representing Samuel Kaggwa Ssekamwa, an independent candidate in the Rakai Local Council chairperson's race. Ssekamwa is contesting for the same seat with Godfrey Bajjungu (NRM), Eliab Kigundu Sango (NUP), Elisa Nicholas Ssekitende (FDC), and independents Ali Balekye, Kasiiba John, and Robert Nyondo.
Muhammad Nsubuga, the Greater Masaka Regional Police Spokesperson, says they are still pursuing the suspects for their involvement in electoral malpractices. He says they have already summoned the presiding officers from the said polling stations to record statements.
