Councillors frustrated as Jinja Northern Division speaker vote postponed again

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Efforts to elect a speaker and deputy speaker for Jinja Northern City Division have stalled for a second time, deepening uncertainty over the leadership of the newly constituted council and raising questions about what is delaying the completion of the process.

Councillors had been summoned by the Northern Division town clerk, Umar Lutalo, to conclude the election of the two positions at the division council offices in Bugembe at 2:00 pm on June 2, 2026.

The councillors, together with the division mayor, Ayub Wabika of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), were sworn in by Jinja Chief Magistrate Sheila Fionah Angura in Budondo on May 22, 2026.

Following the swearing-in ceremony, Angura presided over the speakership election, which attracted four candidates: Mansoor Ssemuwemba (NUP, Budumbuli West), Hilary Besweri Naita, the youth councillor aligned to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), Joseph Mpagi of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), and Samuel Mukopi Kakyamu (Independent).

The results placed Ssemuwemba in the lead with 12 votes, followed by Kakyamu with 11 votes, while Naita and Mpagi secured six and three votes, respectively.

Although Ssemuwemba was initially declared the winner, his victory was short-lived after concerns emerged that he had failed to secure an absolute majority of more than 50 percent of the total votes cast, as required under the law.

Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) councillor Denis Waheyi of Ivunamba ward rising a concern during the forfeited council sitting. (Photo by Jackie Nambogga)

The development sparked disagreement among a section of NRM leaders, who challenged the declaration of results and cited Section 29B subsection 13(11) of the Local Governments Act, which provides guidelines for electing a speaker at a lower city division.

Since none of the candidates attained the required 50 per cent threshold, the NRM camp argued that the process should proceed to a run-off between the two leading candidates until one secured the required majority.

Following the dispute and interpretation of the law, the magistrate suspended the meeting indefinitely.

The division is expected to have 33 councillors. However, the number was reduced following the death of Majid Kawanguzi, the elderly councillor, shortly after the general elections.

This meant that any successful candidate in the speakership race needed at least 16 votes to secure victory.

Although Lutalo's invitation letter dated May 28, 2026, did not specify whether councillors would participate in a run-off or continue from the previous process, it indicated that the council would conclude the election of both positions.

Preparations had been made for the meeting, including the erection of two tents and the hiring of a public address system.

By 2:00 pm, all councillors had arrived amid heavy deployment of anti-riot and regular police officers. A police pickup truck blocked the main entrance, restricting access to selected individuals.

Councillors were served sodas, while some bought boiled eggs as they waited. Others moved around in groups discussing the continued delay.

At about 4:15 pm, NUP city spokesperson Habibu Bumba, the councillor for Nakanyonyi ward, and FDC councillor Denis Waheyi of Ivunamba ward approached the podium and sought guidance from the clerk to council, Samuel Tibita.

Tibita remained seated as frustrated councillors announced plans to sing the national anthem before leaving.

“Our technocrats should know that most of us are elites and running personal businesses; unfortunately, we are not seeing the magistrate, the town clerk, including our mayor, who is in hiding,” Bumba noted.

It was not until 5:50 pm that Lutalo appeared. He briefly took his seat before moving to the podium, where he apologised to councillors and explained that he had been held up in a security meeting related to the session.

Umar Lutalo (L), the town clerk listening to the irate councilors who accused him of taking them for granted. (Photo by Jackie Nambogga)

“Some councillors have left, but I wish to apologise for the delay and disappointment; the council cannot take place because of issues related to this very session,” he said.

Lutalo explained that the meeting had become a security concern and required urgent deliberation by the security committee.

He said the security meeting was still ongoing and announced that a new date would be communicated to conclude the pending election.

He later translated the message into Luganda for members of the public before asking them to disperse.

No refreshments at swearing-in

Chris Blatter, the councillor for Katende ward, criticised Lutalo for what he described as poor management of council business.

Meanwhile, Waheyi demanded payment of what he described as two sitting allowances, one for the swearing-in ceremony and another for the failed council meeting.

Bumba supported the demand and further accused Lutalo of failing to provide food and adequate seating during the swearing-in ceremony, alleging that funds allocated for the event had been shared among technocrats.

However, Lutalo urged councillors not to focus on allowances and said the matter would be discussed away from the media.