New Kampala city town clerk suspended
Sep 13, 2006
THE newly-appointed Kampala City Council (KCC) Acting Town Clerk, Muwonge Kewaza, has been suspended, eight days after his predecessor, James Sseggane, was interdicted.
By Josephine Maseruka
THE newly-appointed Kampala City Council (KCC) Acting Town Clerk, Muwonge Kewaza, has been suspended, eight days after his predecessor, James Sseggane, was interdicted.
Kewaza, who was Sseggane’s deputy until September 5, was also suspended over mismanagement and misappropriation of about sh1.8b.
He was directed to hand over the office to Ruth Kijjambu, who has been a Senior Principal Assistant Town Clerk for Kawempe division.
The September 13 interdiction letter was signed by Ministry of Local Government Permanent Secretary Vincent Ssekkono.
It read: “Preliminary Police investigations have found it necessary to suspend Muwonge Kewaza, the Acting Town Clerk of Kampala, to pave way for further and comprehensive investigations into the alleged massive mismanagement and embezzlement of public funds.â€
Kewaza was reminded of the gravity of the allegations. Like his former boss, Kewaza is not allowed to leave the country without permission from the local government ministry, will receive half of his monthly salary and is prohibited from KCC premises unless required.
Kijjambu will be deputised by William Tumwine, who has been a senior Principal Assistant Clerk for Nakawa division. The appointments took effect yesterday.
The two will be in charge of the offices until investigations into the alleged embezzlement are completed.
Kewaza was for a long time the Kampala District Education Officer, before he replaced Sseggane as Deputy Town Clerk over a year ago.
Tension has gripped KCC staff following the continued investigations and interdictions. Since Tuesday, many have been seen in groups around City Hall.
Sseggane and other KCC officials allegedly withdrew sh2.8b from KCC’s accounts for unspecified reasons between July 2005 and May 2006, just after Sseggane took over office.
KCC finance statements do not show how the money was spent and in some cases, according to a Stanbic Bank statement, the money would be withdrawn a day after it was deposited.
Sseggane and two other officials withdrew the money in cash, contrary to public accounts requirements on withdrawing huge amounts of money.
At the Tuesday extraordinary KCC council meeting, Kewaza had been appointed by the executive as a signatory to the KCC financial documents.
KCC is now operating in a crisis following the freezing of its accounts by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) following non-remittance of sh3.2b for teachers and health workers’ Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax. The arrears had accumulated from 1999 to 2004.
With the impending return of children to school, KCC workers are in a dilemma as to where to get school dues after the vote for their salaries was confiscated by URA.
A source from the Ministry of Local Government yesterday said they would thoroughly sweep KCC until it is free of any unscrupulous people.
President Yoweri Museveni, while campaigning for re-election, vowed to fight graft in the Government. He has reiterated commitment to the fight several times.
THE newly-appointed Kampala City Council (KCC) Acting Town Clerk, Muwonge Kewaza, has been suspended, eight days after his predecessor, James Sseggane, was interdicted.
Kewaza, who was Sseggane’s deputy until September 5, was also suspended over mismanagement and misappropriation of about sh1.8b.
He was directed to hand over the office to Ruth Kijjambu, who has been a Senior Principal Assistant Town Clerk for Kawempe division.
The September 13 interdiction letter was signed by Ministry of Local Government Permanent Secretary Vincent Ssekkono.
It read: “Preliminary Police investigations have found it necessary to suspend Muwonge Kewaza, the Acting Town Clerk of Kampala, to pave way for further and comprehensive investigations into the alleged massive mismanagement and embezzlement of public funds.â€
Kewaza was reminded of the gravity of the allegations. Like his former boss, Kewaza is not allowed to leave the country without permission from the local government ministry, will receive half of his monthly salary and is prohibited from KCC premises unless required.
Kijjambu will be deputised by William Tumwine, who has been a senior Principal Assistant Clerk for Nakawa division. The appointments took effect yesterday.
The two will be in charge of the offices until investigations into the alleged embezzlement are completed.
Kewaza was for a long time the Kampala District Education Officer, before he replaced Sseggane as Deputy Town Clerk over a year ago.
Tension has gripped KCC staff following the continued investigations and interdictions. Since Tuesday, many have been seen in groups around City Hall.
Sseggane and other KCC officials allegedly withdrew sh2.8b from KCC’s accounts for unspecified reasons between July 2005 and May 2006, just after Sseggane took over office.
KCC finance statements do not show how the money was spent and in some cases, according to a Stanbic Bank statement, the money would be withdrawn a day after it was deposited.
Sseggane and two other officials withdrew the money in cash, contrary to public accounts requirements on withdrawing huge amounts of money.
At the Tuesday extraordinary KCC council meeting, Kewaza had been appointed by the executive as a signatory to the KCC financial documents.
KCC is now operating in a crisis following the freezing of its accounts by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) following non-remittance of sh3.2b for teachers and health workers’ Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax. The arrears had accumulated from 1999 to 2004.
With the impending return of children to school, KCC workers are in a dilemma as to where to get school dues after the vote for their salaries was confiscated by URA.
A source from the Ministry of Local Government yesterday said they would thoroughly sweep KCC until it is free of any unscrupulous people.
President Yoweri Museveni, while campaigning for re-election, vowed to fight graft in the Government. He has reiterated commitment to the fight several times.