Kayunga District Council Rejects Motion to Reverse Interdiction of 13 Officials

Tempers flared during a tense Kayunga District Council session as executive committee members clashed over a motion to reverse the recent interdiction of 13 local officials. The officials were suspended following allegations of abuse of office, negligence, and financial mismanagement.

The motion, introduced by Mr. Moses Oyeyo, the District Secretary for Finance, Planning, and Administration, aimed to overturn an October 1 directive issued by Ministry of Local Government Permanent Secretary Ben Kumumanya to Chief Administrative Officer Edith Mutabazi. The directive followed an anti-corruption visit by Minister Balaam Barugahara, where residents lodged numerous complaints against civil servants, including the district engineer, planner, production officer, and town clerk.

Mr. Oyeyo defended his motion by arguing that the interdictions violated administrative guidelines. He cited Section 70 of the Local Government Act, asserting that the CAO should operate without external personnel control. He also noted that standard public service procedures require active criminal charges or formal investigative file numbers, which he claimed were missing.

However, the motion faced stiff opposition from councilors who insisted the disciplinary measures were both necessary and lawful. Kitimbwa Town Council Councilor Michael Nanda pointed out that the State House Anti-Corruption Unit is actively investigating the allegations and gathering evidence.

Other council members warned that passing the motion would send a dangerous message that the district leadership condones corruption. CAO Edith Mutabazi reassured the council that the suspensions align with a wider presidential anti-corruption campaign and that any legal liabilities would be handled by the central government.

Read more about this story in the Daily Monitor.