AG to decide Lukwago''s fate next week

May 26, 2013

Frank Tumwebaze has written to the Attorney General, asking him to evaluate the petition filed by 18 city councillors.

SATURDAY VISION

By Brian Mayanja & Juliet Waiswa

KAMPALA - The Minister in charge of the Presidency and Kampala Capital City, Frank Tumwebaze, has written to the Attorney General, asking him to evaluate the petition filed by 18 Kampala city councillors seeking to remove Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago from office.

City councillors, led by Bruhan Byaruhanga, accuse Lukwago of abuse of office, incompetence and misconduct.

In the letter dated May 20, Tumwebaze asked the Attorney General whether there were sufficient grounds for removing Lukwago from office.

“I am compelled by the provisions of section 12(5) of the KCCA Act, 2010 to consult with you. I shall appreciate if I could receive your legal opinion before the end of this month in view of the limited time prescribed in the abovecited provision of the law,” the letter reads.

Sources from the Attorney General’s office told Saturday Vision on Thursday that they will forward their legal opinion to KCCA next week.

According to the KCCA Act, the minister in consultation with the Attorney General shall constitute a tribunal within 21 days after receipt of the petition. The tribunal should consist of a judge of the High Court or a person qualified to be appointed as a judge. T

wo other persons shall also be appointed by the minister, in consultation with the Chief Justice, to investigate the allegations.

The law says if the tribunal determines that there is a prima facie case for the removal of the Lord Mayor and two thirds of the councillors pass the resolution, the Lord Mayor will cease to hold office.

However, constitutional lawyer Yusuf Nsibambi said although the city councillors are using legal means, they are being used by a certain clique in the Central Government.

“Councillors think by sacrificing Lukwago, they will be safe. But the way mafia in this Government operate, time will come when the councilors will also be needed to exit,” Nsibambi argued.

Last week, councilors petitioned Tumwebaze, notifying him of their impending resolution to remove Lukwago from office over several allegations.

They accused Lukwago of intentionally and willfully engaging in acts of public incitement against payment of city dues, which have not only impeded revenue collection efforts but also put KCCA staff in danger.

The councillors also accused him of failing to convene ordinary meetings to transact business, preferring special meetings, which, they said, was contrary to section 12 (1) of the KCCA Act.

Lukwago is also being accused of misusing information accessed by virtue of his office to inform the public, propagate lies against officers and the institution of KCCA.

The councillors fault him over alleged persistent attacks on KCCA technical staff and councillors as being corrupt, use of abuse language during authority meetings on top of failure to heed technical, administrative and legal advice regarding KCCA management, contrary to section 19(g) of the KCCA Act.

 

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