Last month, Kakwerere sacked his vice, Samuel Niwandinda, accusing him of insubordination. This was after Niwandinda who is also the secretary in charge of finance, planning and administration for the Rukiga district council held a press conference and Niwandinda declared his intentions to contest against Kakwerere in the National Resistance Movement-NRM party primaries accusing him of suffocating efforts to have the public get updates about the performance of the district.
Robert
Mbabazi Kakwerere, Rukiga District LCV Chairman, on Wednesday clashed with
councilors over the replacement of his vice. Last month, Kakwerere sacked his vice, Samuel Niwandinda, accusing him
of insubordination.
This was after Niwandinda, who is also the secretary in
charge of finance, planning and administration for the Rukiga district council, held a press conference and declared his intentions to contest
against Kakwerere in the National Resistance Movement-NRM party primaries. He accused the Chairperson of suffocating efforts to have the public get updates about the
performance of the district.
Niwandinda
argued that since they assumed office in 2021, district leaders have never held
a radio talk show or community gathering commonly known as Baraza to explain to
the people of Rukiga how the district has performed.
He
also claimed that no political leader has moved to the communities to supervise
or assess government programs like the Youth Livelihood Fund (YLP), Emyooga and
the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP), among
others.
He also accused Kakwerere of keeping quiet as the
district faces an exodus of civil servants due to Kakwerere’s alleged
harassment. He also claimed that the district service commission, land
board, and Public accounts are inactive, which has hindered service
delivery.
After his sacking, Niwandinda petitioned the court, saying that his sacking is null and void because he was not given a fair hearing and the council was not consulted.
During the district council session on Wednesday, Kakwerere announced that he has replaced
Niwandinda with Jacqueline Nkamushaba, a female councilor representing Muhanga
town council. Kakwerere also declared that Nkamushaba will continue
serving as the secretary for health and education. Kakwerere also appointed
Eunice Sadayo female councilor for Rwamucucu Sub County, as the secretary for
Finance and Social Services.
The
announcement, however, angered a section of councilors, accusing Kakwerere of
appointing Nkamushaba, yet the matter is before the court.
Godfrey Mukuru, male
councilor representing Muhanga town council, Ainembabazi Brendah, female
councilor representing Bukinda sub county, Adrine Tumukunde, councilor
representing female workers and Elly Katabazi, male councilor
representing Kamwezi sub county, demanded that Kakwerere halt appointments as they
claim that the matter is before the Kabale high court and hearing is soon.
//Cue
in: “the breach of…
Cue
out: …to you.”//
But
Kakwerere insisted, saying that he has the power to replace the executive and vice
chairperson. Oscar Akampurira, District speaker and Hajjat Sharifah Nakintu
backed Kwerere, saying Rukiga district local government is not in the court
petition.
//Cue
in: “the court application…
Cue
out …solicitor general.”//
Amed
Bende, male councilor representing Mparo town council, Gideon Akampurira, male
councilor representing Bukinda Sub County, and Kadesi Muyanja, female councilor
representing Kamwezi Sub County, also backed Kakwerere, saying that his
appointments are legitimate
//Cue
in: “Chairman akorese obushoborozi…
Cue
out: …the chairman.”//
Niwandinda
also accused Kakwerere of being a dictator and declining to give him a fair hearing.
//Cue
in: “the issue comes in…
Cue
out: …challenge is.”//
Kakwerere
went ahead and appointed Nkamushaba amid protests from a section of councilors.
