BY JOACKIM KULE
A report of the select committee of council over corruption allegations in Kasese District today sparked mixed reactions among the councilors immediately it was presented during an extra-ordinary council sitting.
Kasese District Council on September 12, 2024 under minute 12/KDLG/COU/SEPT/2024/25 constitute a working committee under the rules of procedure Rule 92 which mandates council to institute at any time, by resolution, appoint working committees for consideration of unique and specialized matters not covered under the standing committees and would be required to report to council.
A seven member committee was charged with the responsibility of investigating allegations of corruption in the District Service Commission, District Executive and the Chief Administrative Officer /Human Resource department.
It was also charged to hold open public meetings/rallies to ascertain the allegations of corruption as well as reaching out to the people who could come out with information about the allegations of corruption among others.
Presenting the report to the council members, Mr. Morris Kabunzungwire, the Committee Chairperson indicated that when they interacted with the targeted categories of the people that they intended to meet, they found out a number of issues associated with corruption in the district.
The committee observed that some members of the District Service Commission were directly involved in cases of bribery where they obtained money from the members of the public with promises of favoring them for jobs during the recruitment process and those who came out to testify were believed to be the ones who did not get jobs.
The committee also observed that there was political interference in the operations of the District Service Commission among other findings.
Mr. Morris Kabunzungwire, the committee chairperson who read the report recommended that some members of the Service Commission including Ms Rebecca Kabugho Kabbyanga who represents females and Mr. Elijah Kyetunda, a representative of the urban councils should step down with immediate effect to allow further criminal investigations into the issues and matters alleging misuse and abuse of office.
However, the report brought doubt among some of the councilors since it wasn’t fully signed by all the members of the committee, whereas some of the members cited some gaps that needed to be corrected.
While defending himself before council why he didn’t append his signature on the report, Mr. Charles Kaliba, the Councilor representing Karambi Sub County said some of the issues in the report were not found in the field.
Kaliba thus decided to come up with his minority report that he felt captured all the findings basing on evidence.
Responding to the two reports presented, Ham Natuhwera, the Councilor representing Nyakatonzi Sub-county indicated that the investigators did not show proof that they later interrogated the accused persons before compiling the report.
Kasese District Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Eliab Begumya Ntarwete also told council that he was not comfortable with the presented report.
He guided that council could first give an opportunity to the accused persons so that they come up with an evidence based report that would inform council about the next course of action in an attempt to avoid leading the district into a financial loss.
Kasese District Council Speaker, Mr. Johnson Mayora conquered with the deliberations of the majority, saying that they would first have a fair hearing from the accused members during a full council sitting that is slated for December 18.
Kasese District Chairperson, Mr. Eliphazi Muhindi Bukombi, told them that he was still sticking on his campaign against corruption.
ENDS