At the centre of the growing controversy is the municipality Mayor Godfrey Kayemba, who prefers to extend into the urban areas that fall under Lwengo and Kalungu districts, a proposal that Masaka LCV Chairperson Jude Mbabali is against.
The accusations come at the time the Katakwi residents are accusing their counterparts in Napak of alleged eviction at the border. The Iteso community claims that more than 300 people have been evicted by the Karamojong in the villages of Kaithelem and Okameta. They also noted that some of their houses were burnt, forcing them to stay in camps, among other issues.
The market was under Nadunget Sub County until April, this year, when the Local Government Ministry merged 20 new villages from the neighbouring sub-counties with the municipality. However, the two sub-counties had earlier agreed to allow the operations of the market to continue in the same location pending council resolutions.
The greater Masaka districts leaders’ led by their consortium president who is also Masaka LCV chairperson, Jude Mbabali resolved to annex the sub-counties of Kingo in Lwengo district and part of Kalungu district to Masaka municipality in order to meet the requirements.
URN saw land title ownership by Moroto Municipality issued on June 23rd, 2016. However, attempts for the comment from Bishop Guzzetti Damiano of Moroto Diocese were futile as his known telephone was switched off by the time compiling this story.
In its district council resolution of May 31st, Amudat leaders petitioned the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government for immediate transfer of the CAO who has been in the district for less than six months.
The accusations follow a long standoff by the district leadership of Napak and Katakwi over administrative boundary. In February, the Local Government Minister, Tom Butime opened the boundary for the two districts but no common ground has been reached by the two districts.
This stems from the proposal to annex Karambi Sub County in Burahya County to the Municipality. The annexation of Karambi is supported by Kabarole LC 5 Chairperson, Richard Rwabuhinga and Fort Portal Municipality Member of Parliament - MP, Alex Ruhunda. However, Burahya County MP Margaret Muhanga is against the annexation.
