Councillors storm out of meeting over allowances

Some of the Lyantonde District councillors stand under a tree after storming out of the council hall on Wednesday. Photo by Cleophas Tukamarwa

What you need to know:

  • The councillors are also opposed to a decision by the district authorities to deduct Pay As You Earn on their allowances, which they say is too little to be taxed.
  • Clement Tuuma, a councillor representing the elderly, shouted as he stormed out of the meeting hall.

LYANTONDE. Lyantonde District councillors on Wednesday stormed out of a council meeting over unpaid allowances.
The councillors claim they are demanding allowance arrears for three months amounting to Shs750,000 each.
The district chairperson, Mr Fred Muhangi and the speaker, Mr Ephraim Kamugisha, tried to calm the councillors down to attend the council meeting, but their pleas fell on deaf ears.
“President Museveni promised to pay Shs250,000 to each councillor per month, but we have now spent three months without getting that money,” Mr Clement Tuuma, a councillor representing the elderly, shouted as he stormed out of the meeting hall.

The councillors are also opposed to a decision by the district authorities to deduct Pay As You Earn on their allowances, which they say is too little to be taxed.
Mr Johnson Nuwasasira, the councillor representing Mpumudde Sub–county, said they will not attend any council meetings until they are paid their allowances.
“The CAO [chief administrative officer] and his staff must wake up. That is why we have decided to demonstrate to show them that we are of value and they need us too,” Mr Nuwasasira said.
Mr Kamugisha said sitting allowances for councillors are available and the arrears will be paid to them soon.
Mr Muhangi asked the councillors to stop holding the district executive and the technical team at ransom, saying with or without allowances, they were elected to serve the people.
“How can someone who was elected by people refuse to sit in council because of money?” he rhetorically asked.

But Mr Joseph Juuko, the district secretary for finance and administration, who is also the district vice chairperson, backed the councillors, saying money for their allowance is on the district account and wondered why it is not given to them.
This is the second council meeting to flop in three months after the first one ended abruptly after councillors disagreed on money to buy a vehicle for the district education officer.