Sebastian Ssebagala, LC III chairman Wobulenzi town council survived the wrath of Lorry drivers this morning in a meeting he convened to resolve the stalemate over the management of Kikogwe lorry park.
Sebastian Ssebagala, LC III chairman Wobulenzi town council survived the wrath of Lorry drivers this morning in a meeting he convened to resolve the stalemate over the management of Kikogwe lorry park. He convened the meeting after the Lorry drivers rejected the new contractor and accusing members of Luwero District Contracts committee of corruption. They also vowed not to pay any tax to Wobulenzi Truck Transporter association demanding the council cancels their contract.
Today, Ssebagala invited the drivers under Wobulenzi Transporters’ development association for a reconciliatory meeting with the winners of the tender to manager the park Wobulenzi Truck Transporter association. Over 200 lorry drivers turned up for the meeting but none of the officials of Wobulenzi Truck Transporter Association showed up. The irate drivers become violent and attacked Ssebagala accusing him of conniving with Luweero Contracts Committee members and Wobulenzi town council officials to give the park to unknown person.
Fred Kyambazzi, an eye witness says that Ssebagala pleaded with the drivers to remain calm and elect their representatives for the reconciliation talks forcing them to charge at him. They threatened to beat him up unless he shows them the people behind Wobulenzi Truck Transporter association. Kyambazzi says that Ssebagala panicked and wanted to run away but the drivers closed the get to the meeting venue and continued questioning him about the new contractor.
He says that Ssebagala pulled a letter from his pocket and told the director that the contractor had sent an apology indicating that he will not be available for the meeting. This angered the drivers who grabbed Ssebagala and started roughing him up until Ocita Maali, the Officer in Charge of Wobulenzi town council police post came to his rescue. The meeting ended abruptly as Ssebagala jumped on his motorcycle and sped off. Ocita explains that he ordered the meeting stopped fearing that violence that the drivers could riot.
//Cue in; there is some differences in the associations…………………….’
Cue out; …………..before the elections are held//
Ssebagala says that he has summoned the contractor to explain why they shunned the meeting. He says that elections will be conducted next for the leaders of the drivers to end the tension in the park. But Amis Kajubi, Director Wobulenzi Truck Transporter Association says that he saw no point in attending the meeting because he out rightly won the tender. He accuses the drivers of refusing to cooperate with him which has complicated matters.
Issa Ssebuliba, chairman Wobulenzi Transporter Development Association that he wants the bidding process carried out afresh as the previous exercise was marred by irregularities. Ssebuliba insists they will not pay any single cent to the contract until their grievances are resolved.
