Interdicted Wakiso Town Clerk refuses to leave office

Mr Ssempebwa (L) speaks to Mr Mukalazi, the Town Clerk. Photo by Joseph Kiggundu

WAKISO- Interdicted Wakiso Town Clerk, Mr Cox Ssempebwa has refused to vacate office, until he’s granted audience with President Yoweri Museveni to hand him a list of ‘mafias’ who are baying for his blood .

Mr Ssempebwa  was due to handover office on Tuesday as directed by Wakiso District  Chief Administrative Officer, Mr Luke Lukoda , did not comply saying he wants to expose a group of mafias operating in the district.

Attempts by Wakiso District Human Resource Director, Mr Mathias Katamba to present Mr Livingstone Kasibante as acting town clerk, failed on Tuesday after staff at the Town Council headquarters blocked the process on grounds that “they have a substantive town clerk.”

Mr Ssempebwa, who wept before journalists on Tuesday, says his interdiction is intended to shield land grabbers who are bent on taking public land in Wakiso Town which was allegedly shared by some district officials.

“My interdiction is unlawful and I am not leaving office. I have gone to court to ask for an injunction and I will not leave before I meet President Museveni to give him details of mafias and thieves in Wakiso,” Mr Ssempebwa said.

But an interdiction letter dated July 20, seen by Daily Monitor, Mr Ssempebwa is accused of insubordination, abuse of office, illegal recruitment of staff among others.

 But Mr Ssempebwa says he acted within the law and has a cordial working relationship with his bosses. He was interdicted together with two health workers including Gladys Namande, a nursing assistant and Sarah Namujju, an enrolled nurse, both attached to Kasangati Health Centre IV.

The duo is accused of gross neglect of duty which led to the death of one person who had been admitted to the emergency unit at the health centre.

Presiding over the passing out of over 1,800 people who attained various vocational skills   on July 19 at Wakiso headquarters, Mr Museveni decried corruption among district chief administrative officers and warned them against the vice. And commission of inquiry headed by Bamugemereire has unearthed untold fraud in the land management where several district officials have been implicated.

Mr Ssempebwa has since received support from Wakiso Town Council Mayor Mr Fredson Kasiwuukira Mukalazi and members of his council who urge that the town clerk should not leave office. During an impromptu town council meeting on Tuesday, the officials vowed to stand by Ssempebwa.

“This is a war about  land grabbing. It is not upon us to choose who should go or remain, but the town clerk will not leave until certain issues are resolved. In any case, we do not have a copy of his indictment letter,” Mukalazi said.

Wakiso District Chief Administrative Officer, Mr Lokuda asked Mr Ssempebwa to accept and handover office peacefully before the district involves police to kick him out.

“Mr Ssempebwa   is not court and if he has gone to court let him produce the court injunction and we shall have the way forward,” Mr Lokuda said.