Mukono, Uganda. At last, the Mukono District Council passed a resolution that marks a significant turning point in the district’s shaky administration.
The council has decided to seek the support of the Buikwe District Service Commission to facilitate the recruitment of workers and manage emergencies within the human resources department.
This decision comes as the district is working on developing the necessary modalities to establish its service commission in the future to manage its operations.
The resolution emerged during a council session held at the Chief Administrative Officer’s boardroom on Thursday.
Asuman Muhumuza, the Mukono District Vice Chairperson, moved a motion to seek assistance from Buikwe District stating the need for external support in the meantime while the district explores the possibility of forming its commission.
The council engaged in a thorough deliberation, considering various options and conducting a feasibility study in neighbouring districts such as Wakiso, Kayunga, Buvuma, and Buikwe.
After careful consideration, the majority of the council members, comprising thirty-three district councillors, seconded the motion, signalling their approval for the collaboration with Buikwe District Service Commission.
However, three councillors dissented the motion arguing that it contradicted existing laws. One vocal opponent of the motion was Rauben Ssenyonjo, the representative for youths in the district.
He contested the decision, pointing out that a similar motion had been proposed, tabled, and rejected in a previous council session.
Ssenyonjo cited standard rules of procedure, specifically rule 64, sub-rule 2, arguing that when votes for and against a motion are equal, the motion stands lost. Therefore, restating a previously lost motion for debate and voting violates procedural rules.
Ssenyonjo’s objections were not isolated, as they resounded concerns raised in a petition submitted to Mukono District Council Speaker, Betty Hope Nakasi, on March 1, 2024.
The petition, submitted by Samuel Odongo, the councilor representing Nama sub-county, urged the removal of the motion from the order paper. Odongo stressed that the matter of the Mukono District Service Commission is currently under review by the high court.
Additionally, he highlighted the absence of any legal backing for the notion of hiring a service commission from another district, as per the Local Government Act.
As this decision unfolds, it remains to be seen how legal challenges and procedural concerns will impact the district’s efforts to streamline its administrative processes and enhance local governance.
“Instead of presiding over a council meeting on illegalities…constitute a working committee which can officially mediate all parties in court and settle all disputes by consent settlement which is easier and legal,” Odongo advised adding that alternatively, Mukono transacts business-related to the DSC after all civil applications before the court are disposed of.
However, the Thursday council session saw the district speaker, Betty Hope Nakasi, addressing the ongoing legal matters. Nakasi clarified that the issues before the court did not pertain to hiring a sister district service commission.
She urged the council to focus on the pressing need to address the employment gap within the district, stressing the importance of swiftly increasing human resources to boost development in key sectors such as education, health, and administration at both the district and municipality levels.
Despite the legal challenges, Nakasi remained steadfast in advocating for the motion to collaborate with the Buikwe District Service Commission. She stressed that the council should not fear legal penalties, as the motion did not involve any parties currently entangled in the ongoing court petitions.
Nakasi highlighted the urgent necessity of bridging the employment gap within the district and urged the council members to prioritise the interests of the community.
The District Chief Administrative Officer, Elizabeth Namanda, further assured the council that Mukono would not be the first district to hire a sister district service commission.
Namanda referenced guidance from the Solicitor General on April 27, 2017, stating that Rakai district had been permitted to borrow a sister district commission for recruitment activities.
Although no specific law allowed such borrowing, the Solicitor General had invoked Section 24 of the Interpretation Act to support the opinion of seeking services from a sister commission.
Background
The longstanding bickering within Mukono District Council followed the expiration of the term of service of the district service commission on March 12, 2022.
Mukono District Executive, led by Rev. Peter Bakaluba Mukasa, found itself at odds with the Ministry of Public Service regarding the appointment of a new chairperson.
The Ministry of Public Service proposed Stella Margret Kiondo, the former chairperson elected as the representative of the urban council executives, as the new chairperson.
However, Bakaluba dismissed this suggestion, citing corruption and bribery allegations filed against Kiondo by residents who had previously applied for jobs in the district.
Despite the Ministry’s recommendation, Bakaluba insisted on a thorough scrutiny of Kiondo’s background before confirming her as the chairperson.
In response, Bakaluba recommended Dr. Godfrey Kibuuka Kisuule as the new chairperson, stating the importance of prioritising individuals with unblemished reputations.
He also proposed Sarah Katumba, a former midwife, as a member to complete the commission. The disagreement over the appointments prompted a concerned resident, Samuel Busuulwa, to petition the court seeking orders to force the Public Service Commission to drop Kiondo.
Simultaneously, Stella Kiondo filed a petition with the High Court at Mukono, seeking a proper judicial review of the matter.
As Mukono District Council faces legal challenges and internal disagreements, the pursuit of additional human resources through collaboration with the Buikwe District Service Commission remains a pivotal agenda item with broader implications for the district’s development trajectory.
The resolution of both the service commission appointment and the collaboration with Buikwe will undoubtedly shape the future of governance and administration in Mukono.
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