Office of the President cancels RDC Washaki’s transfer from Masaka

__________________

In a twist of events, the Office of the President has reversed the transfer of Masaka city resident city commissioner (RCC), Ahamada Washaki, just two days after veteran journalist Ahmed Kateregga Musaazi replaced him.

Washaki had been transferred last Friday (September 19) to Moroto and directed to hand over the office to Kateregga, the Butambala resident district commissioner (RDC), on Tuesday, September 22, 2025. Musaazi is also a former deputy RCC for Kimaanya-Kabonera Division in Masaka city.

The decision to reverse the transfer followed threats by National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders in Masaka city, led by their chairperson, Rogers Bulegeya, who vowed to suspend all party campaigns if the transfer was not withdrawn.

RCC Ahmed Washaki.

The Office of the President had earlier explained that the transfer was not related to ongoing conflicts between the RCC and the National Unity Platform (NUP) group.

Opposition leaders in Masaka city, particularly from NUP, had initially welcomed the transfer after making their complaints against Washaki known to the authorities.

During the recent local government nominations, a group of NUP supporters attacked a police officer from the elections desk, allegedly suspecting him of collecting details of people at the centre with sinister motives. The officer’s papers were torn in the process.

At the time, Washaki condemned the act and said the officer was on duty. He warned that those involved, including the city mayor, Florence Namayanja, risked arrest.

The tensions escalated further as NUP supporters threatened to hold demonstrations if Washaki remained in Masaka. Washaki, formerly posted in Mbale city, had replaced Hudu Hussein, who was transferred to Kumi before resigning to contest in elective politics.

On Monday evening, Yunus Kakande, the secretary in the Office of the President, confirmed that Washaki had been instructed to remain in office and Kateregga to continue his role in Butambala.

“I am confirming that Washaki will remain in office in Masaka city, and we have cancelled Kateregga’s transfer,” Kakande explained.

Bulegeya and his group received the news with jubilation, saying they had petitioned the Office of the President to reinstate Washaki because of his leadership qualities.

“We asked the President to bring back Washaki to let him finish his programme for the city. We are therefore happy for the new development, and we want him to begin from where he stopped,” he said.

According to Bulegeya, Washaki is among the few RCCs who are not corrupt, and he has fought against land grabbing in the area. “That is why the majority of those who celebrated his transfer were mainly land brokers and grabbers,” he explained.

He further praised Washaki for explaining government programmes to the public, saying that this role should not be left to the mayor.

Bulegeya added that he has no major conflict with the NUP leadership, but as NRM chairperson, his mission is to remove opposition leadership from Masaka city.

“My mission is to ensure we win all the positions occupied by the NUP supporters, including the Mayor. We want Fredrick Ddembe Kipapaali as the new city Mayor,” he said.

He also described Washaki as a good mobiliser who had promoted government programmes effectively.