Councillors barred from meeting over improper dressing

A group of five Soroti municipal councillors and civil servants in Soroti municipality were thrown out of a council meeting due to inappropriate dressing.

The group was barred from the meeting held at the municipal chambers on Tuesday for close to 12 minutes, after the council speaker Isaac Elakuna issued a strict directive barring them.

Among those thrown out were the Deputy Town Clerk Emmanuel Okanya and others whose particulars were not established by press time.

By rule of order, councillors are supposed to dress in suits which the group failed to abide by.

At the opening of his speech, Elakuna noted that councillors have often been guided on what they are meant to wear to such meetings although this had fallen on deaf ears.

He insisted that no councillor or civil servant dressed inappropriately will be allowed to attend council meetings.

Efforts to get a comment from the councillors who were denied entry were futile as they decided to remain tight lipped.

George William Okoit, the youth chairperson however condemned his colleagues for failing to abide by the speaker's counsel on what kind of clothing they are supposed to don when it comes to council meetings.

"I don't blame the speaker for his move because we (councillors) have often been guided on what to put on in such meetings" Okoit said.

Paul Omer, the mayor cautioned female councillors to dress in a decent manner which does not make fellow councillors uncomfortable.

Omer pointed out councillors who sit on front bench of the council chamber to be careful about their dressing so that they do not interfere unnecessarily with other members.

He also warned male councillors not to walk into the chamber with vests which expose their muscles to other councillors.

Omer even went further lecturing the councillors on etiquette; to eat in a manner that gives them respect.