Kawanga to be probed over court costs
Sep 08, 2008
MASAKA district council has set up a five-member committee to investigate the performance of its lawyer, John Kawanga.
By Dismus Buregyeya
MASAKA district council has set up a five-member committee to investigate the performance of its lawyer, John Kawanga.
The committee chaired by Umar Ssebulime (Kyazanga) was set up following complaints that the district court costs were overwhelming.
“The district is losing millions of shillings to court cases filed against the council,†the woman councillor representing Kyamulibwa, Ruth Komugisha, said.
The committee was set up in a council meeting presided over by the speaker, David Muzanganda, in the Lukiiko hall on Wednesday.
Other members on the committee are Ruth Komugisha, Michael Mulindwa (Nyendo-Ssenyange division), retired Lt. Joe Walusimbi and Teddy Nalongo (Kingo).
Kawanga, who is the Masaka municipality MP, said the district council does not pay him.
“The district council authorities are unfair. I almost work for them as a volunteer, they do not want to pay me for my services. What are they complaining about when I have saved them from paying millions of shillings in court cases?†he said.
However, Kawanga noted that the pensioners’ case against the district was in their favour (pensioners) because the district had accumulated arrears owed to the group.
“I made all efforts to settle this case before reaching the court but I failed because the Government and the district did not fulfill their promise,†he said.
Kawanga said he negotiated for the reduction of the bill to be payed to the prisoners’ lawyer from sh120m to sh80m.
The committee was tasked to verify whether the district was ably represented in court.
MASAKA district council has set up a five-member committee to investigate the performance of its lawyer, John Kawanga.
The committee chaired by Umar Ssebulime (Kyazanga) was set up following complaints that the district court costs were overwhelming.
“The district is losing millions of shillings to court cases filed against the council,†the woman councillor representing Kyamulibwa, Ruth Komugisha, said.
The committee was set up in a council meeting presided over by the speaker, David Muzanganda, in the Lukiiko hall on Wednesday.
Other members on the committee are Ruth Komugisha, Michael Mulindwa (Nyendo-Ssenyange division), retired Lt. Joe Walusimbi and Teddy Nalongo (Kingo).
Kawanga, who is the Masaka municipality MP, said the district council does not pay him.
“The district council authorities are unfair. I almost work for them as a volunteer, they do not want to pay me for my services. What are they complaining about when I have saved them from paying millions of shillings in court cases?†he said.
However, Kawanga noted that the pensioners’ case against the district was in their favour (pensioners) because the district had accumulated arrears owed to the group.
“I made all efforts to settle this case before reaching the court but I failed because the Government and the district did not fulfill their promise,†he said.
Kawanga said he negotiated for the reduction of the bill to be payed to the prisoners’ lawyer from sh120m to sh80m.
The committee was tasked to verify whether the district was ably represented in court.