Police Eject Suspended Councillors From Jinja District Council Amid Chaos

A Jinja District Council session descended into chaos on Friday after police were forced to intervene and eject two suspended councillors who refused to leave the chambers. Speaker Simon Kibombo ultimately adjourned the meeting to avert a physical confrontation between opposing factions.

The standoff centered on Mr. Joseph Ikoona, the councillor representing Namagera Town Council, and Mr. Sharif Pepe Mpoya of Buwenge. Both officials were previously suspended following allegations of misconduct, bringing the total number of disrupted council sittings to four.

When the two councillors arrived for the latest session, they were instructed to exit the chamber. They firmly rejected the directive, arguing that their suspension period had already seen them miss multiple meetings and that they could not be locked out indefinitely. Mr. Ikoona maintained that they had complied with initial directives but questioned the legal basis for their continued exclusion.

Tensions flared as the disagreement intensified, leading officials to summon the police to remove Mr. Ikoona. The atmosphere grew increasingly hostile, with several councillors appearing on the verge of blows before the Speaker stepped in to halt proceedings.

The deep-seated fallout traces back to September 18, when Mr. Ikoona allegedly grabbed the Speaker’s mace during a fierce dispute over the appointment of the Jinja District Service Commission chairperson. That initial clash sharply divided the council into two opposing camps. One faction, aligned with Speaker Kibombo, backed Jinja District Woman MP Peace Tibyaza for the post. Meanwhile, a rival faction led by District Chairperson Moses Batwala supported former councillor Monica Namukose Kamagu.

In the wake of the continuous infighting, Chairperson Batwala has sounded the alarm, demanding urgent intervention to rescue council operations. He has proposed a comprehensive induction program to help both councillors and the Speaker better understand their respective powers, limits, and responsibilities.

For more details on this developing story, read the original report on Daily Monitor.