Mukono’s district chairperson, Rev. Peter Bakaluba Mukasa, has finally succumbed to public pressure and accepted to sign the appointment letter of the urban authority representative to finalise the formation of the District Service Commission.
The controversial Reverend has been at the centre of sharp criticism from Mukono politicians and residents for frustrating district development.
The district has been struggling with poor service delivery for nearly three years due to limited personnel.
Bakaluba had contested the formation of the DSC comprising its former chairperson, Stella Kiondo on grounds of alleged corruption.
Despite Kiondo winning a High Court case in Mukono mandating her immediate appointment, Bakaluba repeatedly refused to comply with the court decision and instructions.
Ingeniously, Bakaluba appealed against the decision to buy more time and alternatively asked Kiondo to withdraw the penalties slapped against him by the court before he would sign her appointment letter.
However, the pressure from the public and the intervention of other politicians compelled the reverend to act.
Summoned, Criticised
Starting with his party, the National Unity Platform-NUP, Rev. Bakaluba was summoned by the Party President Robert Kyagulanyi Sssentamu at the headquarters.
Kyagulanyi asked him to prioritise voters over his interests but Bakaluba chose to ignore his advice.
Rev. Bakaluba also gave up attending to council sessions fearing to be castigated by the speaker Betty Hope Nakasi over the same matter. The council generally declined to proceed with any business including passing of the district budget until the matter of the district service commission was resolved.
During the recent party mobilisation tour within the district, the chairperson faced harsh criticism from fellow NUP members led by the Mukono Municipality Member of Parliament Betty Bakireke Nambooze, for undermining the party.
The atmosphere became so dramatic that they requested Kyagulanyi to consider an alternative flag bearer for the next general elections.
The moment struck deeply at the impassive chairperson, as he was still planning to organise another public appearance, leaders from the ruling government also started pressuring him.
Led by the district National Resistance Movement (NRM) Chairperson, Hajji Twahil Ssebaggala a meeting was organised on Friday and Gen. Katumba Wamala was invited to chair it.
In this meeting, the chairperson agreed to sign the appointment letter for the urban authority representative (Kiondo).
According to his deputy, and also the district Vice Chairperson, Asuman Muhumuza, the NRM team promised to persuade Kiondo to drop the penalties against the Bakaluba.
The fate of the appointment letter, whether it will be returned to the chairperson by the DISO if Kiondo decides not to drop the penalties, remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, the other four members of the District Service Commission have received their appointment letters and are awaiting the inclusion of the remaining member to fully constitute the commission and begin serving the people of Mukono.
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