The power struggle pits John Behangaane, the Municipal Town Clerk, Sauda Namuleme the Municipal Treasurer, Goretti Namugga the Senior Procurement Officer and a section of councillors.
Christine Apolot, the district chairperson of Kumi observes that DPAC work is being frustrated by the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament which she notes, sometimes disregards recommendations from DPACs or sideline them in their work. She wants DPACs re- empowered and their roles respected by other bodies in accountability sector.
The online tool is used for local taxpayers’ registration, payment assessments, e-payment, reconciliation, enforcement, reporting and integration with other government agencies.
Masaka’s quest for a city status had initially been pushed to 2023. Local government Minister Tom Butime said that the decision was based on Masaka’s failure to meet the prerequisites towards its elevation. However, he added that the government had taken a decision to fast-track the process and respond to the unwavering requests from the area.
According to information obtained from the office of Clerk to Council, the proposed town councils include Kyenda, Lusalira, Kalonga, Kiyuni, Ngabano, Kaboona and Kumimu. So far, Kyenda and Kalonga have been approved by the council.
Since the Minister of Local Government, Tom Butime made a pronouncement on the contested border in February, tension has remained high in the border. While Katakwi district welcomes the pronouncement, Napak district has rejected it on grounds that it was biased and politically bent.
The elevation of Entebbe has faced a setback after several leaders of Wakiso District disagreed on merging Kajjansi and Katabi to Entebbe Municipality.
The district business arm dubbed; Wakiso District Development Cooperation will have a private entity separately managed but owned by Wakiso District Local Government and willing semi-autonomous administrative units like municipalities and town councils.
Although government, through the Local Government Minister, Tom Butime, opened the contested boundaries using the 1962 maps last month, Napak leadership contests the findings.
Led by the Wakiso LC5 Chairperson, Matia Lwanga Bwanika, the leaders note that they have been pushing for having the entire district upgraded into a city district and wonder why government instead considered upgrading Entebbe which is one of the municipalities that make up Wakiso.
Tom Butiime, the Minister of Local Government who visited the market on Friday said that the market will be redeveloped under the Markets and Agricultural Trade Improvement Project.
In an emergency meeting held at Napak district headquarters on Tuesday afternoon, the legislators together with the Napak district leaders agreed to deliver their petition to the speaker on Thursday. The Karamoja leaders dispute the recently opened boundary between the two districts.
The tension started when police from Katakwi arrested six residents from Napak and detained them on charges of malicious damage to property, assault and theft offenses which were committed as far back as 2017, according to Katakwi District Police Commander Tonny Ondoga.
A section of councilors led by Musa Mukisa, the Sub County Speaker is resisting a proposal by their chairperson Simeo Ssenkyama to have the headquarters hosted in Byembogo parish. They argue that the decision was not endorsed by the council.
The wrangles stem from a resolution by the district council in December last year to interdict the Chief Finance Officer, Ben Oryono and senior accounts assistant, David Omara Menya for alleged misuse of over Shillings 150 million.
The total annual receipts from district collections as at June 2018 only stood at Shillings 212, 749,998 leaving an outstanding balance of Shillings 514, 750,002. The association only received 24 percent of the total projected annual subscriptions from both districts and sub counties last financial year.
The 910 million shillings road was meant to support residents from majorly Mahango Sub County to transport their agricultural produce with ease as they connect to major markets in Kasese town.
