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JINJA - Jinja city councilors have resolved to remain on their respective council committees even after the expiry of their two-and-a-half-year tenure.

Whereas the law requires both local government councillors and legislators to switch positions from one committee to another after a duration of two and half years, this was to the contrary with the city leaders.

During a Friday council meeting presided over by the speaker Bernard Mbayo at the headquarters chamber, councillors backed a proposal by Richard Mbaziira of maintaining the committees' status quo.

Mbaziira who is a member of the works committee briefed the speaker on how they were all still comfortable with where they were.

The council comprises three committees: Finance, social services and works led by FDC’s Agnes Kadama (Jinja west) Caroline Namitenzi (youth) and Boniface Wabwire, respectively.

“Mr Speaker, we don’t have any problem with the committees where we all belong and it is my humble prayer that we maintain the status quo apart from the exceptional of a few of us,” he submitted.

Even if Agnes Kadama was quick to second the motion, Ivan Kameze (Jinja North Central former Mafubira sub-county) opposed Mbaziira’s submission saying it was against the procedure.

Speaker faulted

In an interview with New Vision Online on Saturday, Kameze (NUP) faulted the speaker of failing to guide council in the right direction saying they were supposed to dissolve all the committees following the elapse of their tenure.

Also, he noted that the finance committee had a vacuum following the resignation of Lilian Sansa (elderly) from the finance committee.

However, Kameze said Mbayo looked on as councilors kept deploying members with Irene Nakato (southern division east) from works to finance and Sansa to works.

Irene Nakato who was switched from the works committee to finance as Kameze who opposed the move spoke on phone behind. (All Photos by Jackie Nambogga)

“The speaker looked on while the procedure was not being followed, he allowed Mbaziira and other councillors to usurp his powers,” Kameze stated.

Even if it would be by consensus to maintain the committees, Kameze said, sticking to the guidelines was important.

Crying foul

He added that in 2021, they went into polls for the committee chairpersons and he contested with Namitenzi but got the same votes.

For purposes of harmony, Kameze said the clerk to council, Rajab Kitto, guided that they were supposed to be on these committees for two-and-a-half years and thereafter make changes.

“I accepted when Kitto guided us that the committee tenure would be winding up in the course of our term only to resolve to maintain themselves,” Kameze scoffed.

Whereas the committees initially comprised four councillors each, Kameze said the Thursday session saw some with five, four and three composition.

Besides Wabwire and Mbaziira, the works committee also included Joshua Bagoole (wokers), Twahiri Ddamulira (Jinja northeast former Bugembe town council) and Sansa (elderly).

Meanwhile that of Namitenzi comprises Kameze, Immaculate Auma Pajobo (workers) and Sarah Kyazike (Jinja north west formerly Budondo sub-county).

The finance committee boasts of the least composition with Irene Nakato Wakabi (southern division east) and John Muwema (elderly).

However, Mbayo blamed councillors for failing to keep time saying the meeting was slated for 2:00PM but they started one-and-a-half hours late.