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KIKUUBE

The local government ministry has intervened in the long time conflict between the Kikuube executive committee led by the district chairperson peter Banura and the district council led by Chris Nkalu over what they termed as lack of working relationship.

For the last three years since this political term started, the district leaders have been fighting one another leaving the people who voted for them suffering.

This conflict has seen the district getting served with over five chief Administrative officers in the space of three years including Dorothy Ajwanga who was transferred after a councillor accused the executive of conniving with the district executive committee to undermine council resolutions.

Ministry commissioner Swizini Mugyema on Wednesday, January 27, 2024, addressed a council meeting and afterwards, met the district leaders including Banura, speaker Nkalu, chief Administrative officer Moses Agum and Resident district Commissioners Amlan Tumusiime and said the ministry was concerned about these conflicts.

He warned that such conflicts (fights) were affecting the development of the district and called on the leaders to unite and serve the people who voted for them.

The commissioner challenged the district leaders to forget their political differences and focus on achieving the reason why the district was created.

Speaking during a council meeting chaired by Nkalu at the district headquarters, Mugyema said the ministry has several negative reports about the district, which, according to him, tarnishes the image of the district.

Swizini Mugyema the commissioner Ministry of local government in charge of creation Administration asked Kikuube leaders to unite for development. (Photo by Peter Abaanabasazi)

He advised the district to rebrand arguing that in some cases, the President is forced to take over the administration of conflicting leaders of local governments once they fail to get organised.   

Disrespect rampant in the district

Vincent Opio, the district vice-chairperson, said the intervention by the ministry, through the commissioner, may not match adding that the problem of the district is the lack of respect among its leaders.

Opio added that several officials from the centre but the problem is not getting addressed adding that there is a need for the leaders to unite, work together and respect one another if the fighting is to end.

“Yes, he has come and is going to talk to some of us, but when he leaves, people will do things their owns way. The issue here is the implementation of what has been agreed upon. For example, the way the speaker conducts the councils is not the way he has done today because the commissioner was around," he said.

Tumusiime commended commissioner for the intervention but said the political fight in the district has nowadays reduced.

He noted that the new CAO, Moses Agum, has tried to handle the conflicts which had spread to the technical staff. He noted that some staff who had been illegally interdicted and took the district to court recently withdraw the cases.