By The Insight Post-Uganda
Mukono-Uganda
The delivery of services in Mukono District has been hindered by persistent political bickering and self-pride among key stakeholders.
The prevailing atmosphere of rivalry and ego clashes has led to a frustrating situation where the primary focus on serving the people has been overshadowed.
Frustration among residents is reaching its peak as the actions of the district’s LC5 Chairperson, Rev. Peter Bakaluba Mukasa, continue impeding service delivery in the region.
The community has expressed deep concern and disappointment over the persistent challenges they face due to the failed constitution of a district service commission (DSC).
The demand for a DSC has remained a top priority as well as a subject of a long-standing disagreement between Rev. Bakaluba and the Ministry of Public Service.
On Tuesday, the mounting frustration reached its peak as Bakaluba and the entire executive team decided to boycott an extraordinary council session that was convened to finalize the establishment of the DSC. This act further aggravated the already critical situation.
Despite the recommendation by the public service, which proposed the appointment of Stella Margret Kiondo, a former chairperson who had been elected as the representative of the urban council executives, Bakaluba disregarded this suggestion.
He (Bakaluba) asserted that it was necessary for Kiondo to undergo further scrutiny, citing multiple petitions lodged by residents who had previously applied for district jobs, accusing her of corruption and bribery. Consequently, he contended that these serious allegations warranted a careful assessment of Kiondo’s suitability for the position.
In his plea to the council, Bakaluba urged them to consider appointing Dr. Godfrey Kibuuka Kisuule as the new chairperson, emphasizing the importance of selecting individuals with untarnished reputations.
He argued that there were numerous individuals of integrity within the district and that it was unnecessary to waste time on candidates with questionable backgrounds. Additionally, Bakaluba recommended Sarah Katumba, a former midwife, as a member, in order to ensure the complete constitution of the commission.
The hasty dismissal of a potential candidate without conducting a proper evaluation has significantly contributed to the escalating dissatisfaction within the community.
The residents, yearning for capable and responsible leadership, find themselves increasingly disheartened by such actions that overlook the need for competence and accountability.
In an attempt to address the prolonged absence of a functional district service commission, the District Speaker, Betty Hope Nakasi, called for an extraordinary council session.
During the session, Rauben Ssenyonjo, the district youth councillor, put forward a motion to withdraw Sarah Katumba’s name from consideration, while proposing Stella Margret Kiondo as an alternative candidate for evaluation by the public service commission.
Following Ssenyonjo’s motion, councillors proceeded to voice their support for the motion one by one.
According to the standard rules of procedures governing council sittings, it is the responsibility of the chairperson to present the names of individuals who will serve on various committees, including the DSC.
In light of the absence of the executive members, the council invoked Section 30 of the Local Government Act, which grants it the authority to temporarily assume the powers of the executive when the quorum is met.
Based on this provision, the council made amendments to the motion and reached a consensus that an individual council member would present the necessary name for consideration, thereby facilitating the complete establishment of the DSC committee.
In a gesture of accountability, the Speaker, Nakasi, offered an apology to the people of Mukono for the inconveniences caused as a result of the absence of the district service commission.
Nakasi further stated that the responsibility now lies with the public service commission to assist in approving the fully constituted district commission. She also appealed to individuals who had filed petitions against the public service commission to consider withdrawing them for the betterment of the district.
For the past two years, the district has been operating without a District Service Commission, a crucial body responsible for appointing and promoting civil servants.
Due to the absence of a functional DSC, a significant portion of allocated funds, totalling Ugx1.2 billion, has been returned to the consolidated fund. This unfortunate circumstance has had severe repercussions, particularly in the education and health sectors, where substantial gaps in employment are causing significant challenges.
Consequently, the community finds itself disillusioned and demanding accountability from their elected leader in light of this dire situation.
During his oversight role on Monday, he (Bakaluba) did not appear to welcome a delegation of legislators led by Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba, the Leader of opposition the LOP in Parliament, as earlier planned,
Mpuuga later instructed the District Speaker and her council to hold Bakaluba accountable for his failure to establish the DSC.
This directive emphasizes the significance of fulfilling responsibilities related to the establishment of essential committees and holding individuals accountable for their actions.
Law Suite
In May of this year, a concerned citizen named Samuel Busulwa from Mukono took legal action by filing a lawsuit against the Public Service Commission.
The lawsuit was in response to the commission’s rejection of the appointment of Dr. Godfrey Kibuuka and Sarah Katumba as members of the commission.
Represented by his lawyer Kenneth Nsubuga, Busulwa seeks an order from the court to invalidate the Public Service Commission’s decision, specifically with regards to the rejection of Dr. Godfrey Kibuuka Kisuule for the position of chairperson and Sarah Katumba as a member of the commission.
In the Tuesday council session, Elizabeth Namanda, the District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), expressed her opinion that the petitioner’s grounds for challenging the Public Service Commission were weak.
According to Namanda, the petitioner failed to demonstrate how he is personally affected by the guidelines and instructions provided to the district chairperson. This perspective suggests that the petitioner’s case may lack the necessary legal standing to challenge the commission’s decisions.
On the other hand, Mukono Municipality Member of Parliament, Betty Nambooze Bakireke, commended the council for their proactive step in fully constituting the DSC.
Nambooze Bakireke expressed her support for the council’s actions, indicating that it is a positive move towards ensuring effective governance and service delivery in the district.
According to her, it is the redemption of hope among the civil servants awaiting confirmation at their places of work and also filling the vacant positions for better service delivery.
“We had him confirm in the stakeholders meeting that he will consider the formation of the commission before mid this month but surprisingly he declined to show up for the council session. This paints the opposition a bad picture since we are the majority in Mukono.”
In contrast, Fred Kayondo, the Member of Parliament for Mukono South, expressed his opinion that Rev. Bakaluba should be forgiven for his absence during the council session.
Kayondo pointed out that in a previous council session, Bakaluba had made a promise to resolve the issue of the service commission before June 15, 2023.
Despite Bakaluba’s absence, Kayondo emphasized that the council had taken the initiative to help fulfil his promise. This perspective suggests that there is a level of understanding and support for Bakaluba’s intentions, despite his absence from the session.
END
English 