NJERU, Buikwe — A section of residents and local leaders in Njeru Municipality have called for the transfer of Senior Assistant Town Clerk Henry Ssekajja, arguing that his nearly decade-long service in Njeru Central Division has raised concerns about administrative accountability and the need for staff rotation.
The campaign, which has attracted support from some residents and local leaders, is based on the argument that prolonged service in one station may deny an officer opportunities to gain experience in other areas of the municipality.
Mr Danny Mugula, one of those advocating for Mr Ssekajja’s transfer, said local government officers are often transferred between duty stations after a number of years and questioned why the Senior Assistant Town Clerk had remained in the same division for close to 10 years.
“Why do you think municipal town clerks are transferred after three years? We started with Mr Molombo Yusuf, who served for about two and a half years, and then Mr Ssekajja came,” Mr Mugula said.
The calls have, however, generated debate among residents and local leaders, with some arguing that concerns surrounding public officers should be addressed through established administrative and government procedures.
Mr Hassan Mulongo, a resident of Kisoga, said residents were demanding explanations over what they described as persistent administrative and service delivery challenges within the division.
He pointed to disagreements involving garbage collection, disputes over council budgets and concerns about road projects that residents claim have repeatedly appeared in municipal budgets without corresponding work being carried out on the ground.
Mr Mulongo also alleged that councillors had at one point rejected a proposed budget over concerns regarding some expenditures before it was eventually passed amid heavy security deployment.
He questioned whether the prolonged stay of the same administrative leadership in the division could have contributed to what some residents perceive as stagnation in the administration and delivery of public services.
The campaign has also attracted political attention, with some of those calling for greater accountability drawing inspiration from the long-standing argument by opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye that government should be accountable to the people rather than exercising control over them.
The campaigners say their demands are centred on greater transparency, accountability and improved service delivery in Njeru Central Division.
Mr Ssekajja has not publicly responded to the concerns and allegations raised by the residents and local leaders. The claims regarding his administration could not independently be verified.
Mr Ssekajja is the son of former Buikwe District LCV chairman Matia Kigongo.
The controversy comes at a time when Njeru Municipality continues to face questions from sections of the public over service delivery, road maintenance, waste management and administrative efficiency.
The matter may require clarification from both the Ministry of Local Government and Njeru Municipality authorities, particularly on whether there is a formal policy or administrative guideline governing the rotation and transfer of Senior Assistant Town Clerks and other municipal officials, and whether Mr Ssekajja’s prolonged tenure in Njeru Central Division is consistent with such guidelines.
As the calls for his transfer grow, residents say they are seeking not only changes in personnel but also greater accountability and tangible improvements in the delivery of public services.
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