Bugweri District councillors lock CAO out of office

Offices at Bugweri District headquarters on Thursday were closed after councillors demonstrated, calling for the immediate transfer of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Mr Jonathan Mukose who they accuse of being corrupt and incompetent.

The councillors stormed the district headquarters at Busesa village and blocked the entrance to the CAO's office and other civil servants while brandishing placards and making chants calling for the CAO's removal.

Bugweri, curved from from Iganga, became operational on July 1, 2018, with government giving the district administration Shs16b as a start up fund.

However, unlike other new districts, Bugweri District Local Government doesn't have a district executive following the failure by government to organize elections for LCV in the area. They also do not have a district council thus most of the work is done by technocrats led by the CAO.

The twelve Councillors said that since the release of Shs16b, the CAO allegedly 'side lined' them in running of the district and most of the funds were in turn embezzled.

Ms Jemina Magoola, a councillor representing Makuutu Sub County, said a lot forgeries have crippled the system and the CAO has failed to give them accountabilities.

“Of the Shs16b that we received, we asked CAO for accountability but he refused; and to make matters worse, he barred civil servants from speaking to us,” Ms Magoola said.

Ms Hawa Musubika, a district councillor representing Namalemba Sub-county, accused the CAO of nepotism.

“Since we don’t have an executive, he brought a service commission from Namutumba which he instructs to give most of the jobs to his people. We are tired of him,” Ms Musubika said.

Mr Micheal Kibwika, a representative of Busembatia Town Council, accused CAO of incompetence, saying: "Funds which were sent by UNICEF are being embezzled under his watch."

Activities were paralysed at the district as civil workers who had reported for work were ordered to return home.

The councillors accused the CAO of allegedly refusing to give them their entitlements, 'harassing civil servants' by denying some of them salary and making unnecessary transfers, which accusations he denied.

“Councillors have their own issues but as head of civil service, I am doing my work and things are going on normally,” Mr Mukose said.

"We have utilized the funds well, the money for roads, water were used in the appropriate way and the grants for UPE, health and others were well-utilized," he said.

On the issue of nepotism, the Mr Mukose dismissed the allegations, stating that they are simply erroneous allegations as he does not sit on the service commission.

Police led by the District Police Commander (DPC), Mr John Nkudizana, rushed to the scene to contain the situation as there were fears that the protesters could turn rowdy.

Police tried to confiscate their placards but in vain as the protesters demanded to see the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Ms Eva Kwesiga who, after meeting the group, said she was going to inform higher authorities.

In the meeting, it was resolved that the offices remain closed until Friday (today) when a crisis meeting is held.