IGG warns Jinja municipality speaker
Jan 18, 2009
THE Inspector General of Government (IGG) has warned of action against Jinja municipal council speaker for failure to implement her recommendations.
By Charles Kakamwa
THE Inspector General of Government (IGG) has warned of action against Jinja municipal council speaker for failure to implement her recommendations.
Justice Faith Mwondha, in a December 19, 2008 report, directed Matthew Mukwaya, to convene a meeting to remove the mayor, Muhammed Baswale Kezaala, from office over abuse of office and breach of the Leadership Code Act.
“This is to inform you that any act by you or any other person to block the implementation of the above report is an offense that is punishable under the law,†Mwonda said in a January 15, 2009 letter to Mukwaya.
“This is therefore to direct you to cause the implementation of the recommendations without any further delay.â€
Following the report, Mukwaya called a meeting but councillors for and against Kezaala nearly traded blows.
Councillors loyal to the mayor argued that he should be left until February 13, as per the court injunction he (Kezaala) had secured.
A week later, Kezaala was arrested and charged in a Kampala court before being sent on remand to Luzira Prison. He is accused of causing a sh16m loss to the council.
In a January 9 letter, the solicitor general advised the town clerk that the mayor should not have been arrested until court decides on his fate.
But Mwondha replied: “The office of the solicitor general is advised to desist from doing any act will frustrate or obstruct the functions of the IGG.â€
Mwondha, in a separate letter to the permanent secretary in the local government ministry, said Kezaala should be suspended until the case is complete.
“Accordingly, this office orders that Mr. Kezaala stays aside from office until the conclusion of criminal proceedings against him. This will prevent further mismanagement of the meagre resources of the council,†she said.
Mwondha also ordered the town clerk and the chief administrative officer, to ensure that Kezaala’s deputy, Adinan Kawooya, takes over office “until this office directs otherwiseâ€.
THE Inspector General of Government (IGG) has warned of action against Jinja municipal council speaker for failure to implement her recommendations.
Justice Faith Mwondha, in a December 19, 2008 report, directed Matthew Mukwaya, to convene a meeting to remove the mayor, Muhammed Baswale Kezaala, from office over abuse of office and breach of the Leadership Code Act.
“This is to inform you that any act by you or any other person to block the implementation of the above report is an offense that is punishable under the law,†Mwonda said in a January 15, 2009 letter to Mukwaya.
“This is therefore to direct you to cause the implementation of the recommendations without any further delay.â€
Following the report, Mukwaya called a meeting but councillors for and against Kezaala nearly traded blows.
Councillors loyal to the mayor argued that he should be left until February 13, as per the court injunction he (Kezaala) had secured.
A week later, Kezaala was arrested and charged in a Kampala court before being sent on remand to Luzira Prison. He is accused of causing a sh16m loss to the council.
In a January 9 letter, the solicitor general advised the town clerk that the mayor should not have been arrested until court decides on his fate.
But Mwondha replied: “The office of the solicitor general is advised to desist from doing any act will frustrate or obstruct the functions of the IGG.â€
Mwondha, in a separate letter to the permanent secretary in the local government ministry, said Kezaala should be suspended until the case is complete.
“Accordingly, this office orders that Mr. Kezaala stays aside from office until the conclusion of criminal proceedings against him. This will prevent further mismanagement of the meagre resources of the council,†she said.
Mwondha also ordered the town clerk and the chief administrative officer, to ensure that Kezaala’s deputy, Adinan Kawooya, takes over office “until this office directs otherwiseâ€.