Botched oaths irk minister
THE swearing-in ceremony turned out to be a daunting task for local councillors some of whom fainted as they struggled to say the oath in English.
By Francis Kagolo and Anne Mugisa
THE swearing-in ceremony turned out to be a daunting task for local councillors some of whom fainted as they struggled to say the oath in English.
Local government minister Adolf Mwesige has blamed district chief administrative officers and sub-county chiefs for not translating the oath into local languages for councillors to understand.
Some councillors shook in terror as they sweated with tongue-twisting words.
Some good Samaritans tried to guide them on how to pronounce the words.
But even then, the councillors still blundered with the pronunciations.
Mwesige also blamed judicial officers for presiding over swearing-in ceremonies where elected leaders failed to read the oaths.
Many said: “I solomonly†for “I solemnly swearâ€, while others pronounced allegiance as ‘illigency†and faithful as “featherfullâ€.
One district councillor in Kibaale, said, “I ---swear that I will be fool and be true oranges to the public of Uganda and that I will slave, protect and defend the Constitution.â€
In Mpigi district, an aging woman councillor fainted when she failed to read the oath script and the audience laughed at her.
“The fault was with the district chief administrative officers and sub-county chiefs. They should have translated the oaths. Local councils are for the local people, not the elite. Why should councillors be forced to swear in English?†Mwesige asked.
The Chief Justice, Benjamin Odoki, yesterday said the law did not stop councillors from the lower local governments from taking the oaths in the languages they use during their deliberations.
Some lawyers New Vision contacted yesterday said it was not constitutional for people to take oaths they do not understand.
However, they all agreed that the oaths are binding on those who took them because it is believed they were explained to them.
THE swearing-in ceremony turned out to be a daunting task for local councillors some of whom fainted as they struggled to say the oath in English.
Local government minister Adolf Mwesige has blamed district chief administrative officers and sub-county chiefs for not translating the oath into local languages for councillors to understand.
Some councillors shook in terror as they sweated with tongue-twisting words.
Some good Samaritans tried to guide them on how to pronounce the words.
But even then, the councillors still blundered with the pronunciations.
Mwesige also blamed judicial officers for presiding over swearing-in ceremonies where elected leaders failed to read the oaths.
Many said: “I solomonly†for “I solemnly swearâ€, while others pronounced allegiance as ‘illigency†and faithful as “featherfullâ€.
One district councillor in Kibaale, said, “I ---swear that I will be fool and be true oranges to the public of Uganda and that I will slave, protect and defend the Constitution.â€
In Mpigi district, an aging woman councillor fainted when she failed to read the oath script and the audience laughed at her.
“The fault was with the district chief administrative officers and sub-county chiefs. They should have translated the oaths. Local councils are for the local people, not the elite. Why should councillors be forced to swear in English?†Mwesige asked.
The Chief Justice, Benjamin Odoki, yesterday said the law did not stop councillors from the lower local governments from taking the oaths in the languages they use during their deliberations.
Some lawyers New Vision contacted yesterday said it was not constitutional for people to take oaths they do not understand.
However, they all agreed that the oaths are binding on those who took them because it is believed they were explained to them.