I am a political head without powers - Jinja Mayor

Sep 15, 2017

The mayor said he was frustrated because technical people have frustrated him

Councillors besiege Mayor Batambuze (wearing blue suit). The councilors want the Jinja town clerk to be removed

Jinja Mayor Majidu Batambuze has confessed he became mayor, without realising that mayors were powerless and that most powers in municipalities belong to town clerks.

"When I was campaigning, I did not know most powers were entrusted with town clerks. Even when I give a directive, it cannot be implemented because as the political head, I am powerless."

"For instance, I cannot sign cheques. It can only be done by the town clerk," Batambuze who is also the chairperson of Urban Authorities Association Uganda lamented.

The mayor said he was frustrated because when he was campaigning, he promised to tackle issues such as lighting up the town, improving garbage collection, improving the poor road network, among others.

"I promised I would transform Jinja town, but the technical people have frustrated me," he said.

Earlier, there was a group of youths who stormed the office of the Francis Byabagambi, the town clerk demanding that he vacates office, but were late repulsed by Police. 

 

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