Mukwaya, Lukooya clash over removal of CA0

Mar 23, 2010

GENERAL duties minister Janat Mukwaya on Monday clashed with Mukono district chairperson Francis Lukooya during a council meeting discussing a petition to fire the chief administrative officer (CAO), Eustace Gakwandi, over allegations of incompetence.

By John Semakula

GENERAL duties minister Janat Mukwaya on Monday clashed with Mukono district chairperson Francis Lukooya during a council meeting discussing a petition to fire the chief administrative officer (CAO), Eustace Gakwandi, over allegations of incompetence.

Mukwaya and Lukooya traded accusations throughout the three-hour meeting, which ended without reaching a decision.

The petition, which was signed by 23 councillors, had been tabled for approval before being sent to the local government ministry.

Mukwaya, a former councillor, ignited the clash when she said she was disappointed that the petitioners were ignorant of the law and wanted to remove the CAO without following the right procedure.

She observed that the local government Act, which the petitioners were basing on to lodge their petition, was inconsistent with the Constitution of Uganda, which gives powers of removing the CAO from office to only the Public Service Commission.

In response, Lukooya said: “I wonder why a former justice minister would fail to interpret a simple section of the law. If you want the CAO, take him to your ministry.”

Mukwaya retaliated by saying: “I am disappointed with the cream of the district, led by the chairperson, for failing to see the inconsistency before drafting their petition.”

Her statement angered Lukooya, who stood up in protest.

The angry Mukwaya said she would ask the President to take over the management of the district if the council endorsed the petition.

“I want the minister to know that we understand the reasons the President can base on to take over the management of the district. What we are deliberating on today is not one of them,” Lukooya responded.

The exchange was interrupted by the district speaker, James Kunobwa, who sought the advice of the local government ministry officials in the meeting.

The officials, led by Patrick Mutabwire, the commissioner of local council development, told the council that the petition was illegal because of its inconsistency with the Constitution.

They said the CAO would most likely take the district council to court over the move.

Mutabwire advised the speaker to adjourn the meeting. The officials had been called to give technical advice on the petition. Gakwandi was quiet throughout the session.

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