Kabooha
There was yesterday a heated discussion in the central division council, that sat at former East division headquarters in Kitumba, as a section of councilors demanded the division executive led by Mayor Richard Muhumuza, to pay back money that they used to go for visitation and benchmarking in Gulu city without council resolution.
The genesis
Genesis of the matter
The matter stemmed from the finance committee’s recommendation to the council, which proposed that the mayor and his executive, be forced to pay back an undisclosed amount of money that they used to travel to Gulu city for benchmarking in early June this year even when it wasn’t in division’s work plan and budget.
Recommendation
The finance committee recommendation signed by Bob Muhumule, Chairperson finance committee, that all those who went to Gulu bring back tax payer’s money.
Muhumule notes too that the exercise was selective and done without council resolution, which sets a bad precedent for the next generation.
A section of councilors led by Kasusu ward male councilor Keneth Kaliba and Njara ward male councilor Ali Kayondo seconded the finance committee recommendation, but nevertheless other councilors led by Richard Asiimwe, male councilor representing people with disabilities rejected the proposal, saying that since it was the council’s first-time error, which ought to be pardoned.
Amidst a heated discussion, central division mayor Richard Muhumuza revealed to the council, that they were guided by the Fort Portal city town clerk Moses Otimong on the benchmarking.
He added that councilors were demanding the division over 1.3Million Uganda shillings each for delayed ex gratia, hence deciding to be selective on sparing money to pay ex gratia arrears.
According to him, they learned a lot from the Gulu visit, which will help the city move forward, especially about roads.
After failing to agree on the matter, Enock Byakagaba, the Fort Portal central division speaker, ruled that since the executive was guided technically by the city town clerk, they ought to write a report to the council on the benchmarking visit exercise because it was beneficial to the division.
