Speaker's mace snatched in Jinja council row over DSC appointment
“Batwala and his former executive lied to us; this shows lack of integrity,” she said.The speaker then suspended Sharif Mpoya, the finance secretary, for one sitting for disrupting proceedings and questioned Lwochaza over presiding over the session in which the duo were approved.
The latest confrontation occurred during a special council meeting presided over by Kibombo at the district council headquarters at Busoga Square in Jinja city. (Credit: Jackie Nambogga)
JINJA - A heated dispute over a nominee to the Jinja District Service Commission (DSC) descended into a confrontation when district vice chairperson Joseph Ikoona grabbed the speaker’s mace and walked out of a council meeting.
Ikoona, who is the district leader of government business, had presented Monica Namukose’s name on behalf of the District Executive Committee (DEC) for approval by councillors to represent urban local councils on the DSC.
However, speaker Simon Kibombo on September 14, 2026, rejected the nomination, saying the council needed to scrutinise Namukose’s academic qualifications, area of residence and, above all, her moral integrity.
The dispute escalated after Kibombo asked Ikoona to present Namukose’s resignation acceptance letter from the Ministry of Public Service, which he said was missing from the nominee’s file.
Namukose, the immediate former speaker of Jinja district, represented Buwenge town council from 2021 to 2026. Her nomination to the DSC came despite an earlier finding by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) that her previous approval for the position had contravened the Local Government Act.
The latest confrontation occurred during a special council meeting presided over by Kibombo at the district council headquarters at Busoga Square in Jinja city.
Annet Kubonaku, the councillor representing Butagaya subcounty and Namagera town council, said the nominee did not have a criminal record.
However, Namukose’s speakership had previously been challenged by former male youth councillor Abdurahman Mujoma, who dragged her to the Jinja High Court over allegations that she had not resigned her Government teaching job before entering politics.
Although the court is said to have confirmed her resignation, Kibombo asked Ikoona to produce the resignation acceptance letter from the Ministry of Public Service to clear the matter.
Kibombo said the document was not included in the file presented by Ikoona, triggering a commotion in which Jinja LC5 chairperson Moses Batwala accused the speaker of wasting their time over the manner in which he was handling the matter.
Kibombo maintained that the council had to follow the stipulated guidelines when appointing members to statutory bodies.
Earlier approval questioned
Kubonaku explained that Batwala and his previous DEC had misled councillors when they approved Namukose’s nomination for the same position on April 28, 2026, despite her still being the district speaker and councillor at the time.
During the same session, which was presided over by deputy speaker Moses Lwochaza at Jinja Nile Resort Hotel, the council also approved Ronald Nanga, who represented Butagaya subcounty, to the District Public Accounts Committee.
Councillor Annet Kubonaku accused Batwala and his former executive for hoodwinking the council which approved Namukose when she had resigned her positions saying they all lacked integrity. (Credit: Jackie Nambogga)
During the 2026 general elections, Nanga failed to reclaim his seat, while Namukose lost the Jinja district woman parliamentary race.
After their defeats, the duo were reportedly considered for the respective district positions, but councillors led by Samuel Akalyaamawa questioned whether they had resigned from their political positions since their terms of office were still running.
A whistleblower subsequently petitioned the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) over their approval.
In a June 16, 2026 letter signed by Olivia Nabatanzi Sempa, the ombudsman noted that the two had been approved for district positions while still serving as district councillors, in violation of different provisions of the Local Government Act.
The IGG said Namukose’s nomination contravened Section 61(2) of Cap 138, which bars a member of a local government council from being appointed to the DSC, while Nanga’s approval violated Section 92(4) of Cap 138.
The IGG concluded that the two were unable to take up the positions of members of the DSC and DPAC respectively.
Despite the IGG’s recommendation, Batwala returned Namukose’s name, saying she was no longer holding any political position.
This triggered another heated argument, with scores of councillors led by Kubonaku accusing Batwala, his former executive and Namukose of lacking integrity by having the council approve the duo in contravention of the law.
“Batwala and his former executive lied to us; this shows lack of integrity,” she said.
The speaker then suspended Sharif Mpoya, the finance secretary, for one sitting for disrupting proceedings and questioned Lwochaza over presiding over the session in which the duo were approved.
Since Batwala had been Namukose’s top campaigner during the general elections, Kubonaku expressed concern that she could be used by the LC5 chairperson for selfish gains.
“Why is Batwala fighting hard to see Namukose on the commission? Has the district run short of potential candidates? We may not get the best out of her,” Kubonaku said.
Mace grabbed
As the speaker made a ruling advising the executive to identify another person, Ikoona maintained that Namukose had all the qualifications but accused Kibombo of playing politics of intrigue and failing one another.
“All the people of Jinja are seated on your head, the people of Buwenge are looking at you for whatever decision you are taking,” said Ikoona before grabbing the speaker’s mace and walking out.
Kibombo subsequently suspended Ikoona for two sittings over his misconduct.