Kitagwenda District LC V Chairperson, Ismail Mushemeza and Speaker, James Baguma are under the spotlight for allegedly overturning and failing to implement a council resolution on the appointment of the representative of People with Disabilities-PWDS to the District Service Commission- DSC.
The councilors claim while the council sat and approved Gertrude Nakazi as the PWD representative to the DSC, the LC V chairperson and speaker connived and forwarded the name of Pasikazia Begarukemu to the Public Service Commission using a forged council minute. Pasikazia was sworn in as the PWD representative to the DSC.
Sadick Mwesigye Muntu, the Kitagwenda Town Council LC V councilor, says that Pasikazia, who even doesn’t have any impairment previously served on the DSC as a member.
“In the council of February 17, under minute 31 KDLG/COU/FEB/2021/2022. The Leader of the council government business presented Nakazi as a representative of the PWD on District service commission and was recommended by council to Public service commission for approval as a representative of PWDs on the district service commission. Later council learnt that Begarukemu was presented under forged council of minute 7/KTG/COU/2021/2022 to represent PWD but council was convinced that Ms Begarukamu was submitted as a member and the council went ahead to recommend Nakazi as a PWD member,” the Councillor narrated.
The councilors also accuse the speaker of approving the representative of the urban council to the DSC without the consent of the council. Stephen Katamba Muvunya, the Ntara sub-county LC V councilor, says that Urban councils met on October 14, 2021, and recommended Alfred Ntungwa as their representative to the District executive committee.
He, however, says that the Executive sidelined Ntungwa for their personal interest and presented Winfred Babura before the council on September 29th, 2022 through the leader of the council Government for approval. Babura was approved, sworn in, and is serving as an ordinary member of the District Service Commission as the Urban Council representative.
The councilors have decided to petition the Ministry of Ethics and Integrity, Public Service, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, and the Inspectorate of Government to look into
the matter and act against the impunity of the leaders. When contacted, Baguma refuted the allegations, saying that the accusations are politically motivated.
On the issue of the PWDS representative to the DSC, Baguma explains that the District Executive Committee suggested Pasikazia since the PWD council had nominated anyone. He explains that the PWDs later Nakazi who was approved and forwarded to the Public Service Commission.
Baguma also explains that the executive had not submitted someone to represent the Urban Council and with guidance from the public service to rectify the matter, the urban councils seconded Winfred Babura and presented the minute to the Council, which was approved.
The councilors also complained about none payment of their sitting allowances and ex gratia for six months, which prompted some to skip the council sitting on September 20, 2022.
The councilors are entitled to ex gratia of Shillings 175,000 monthly while their allowances come from the local revenue collection of the district. Baguma blamed the delayed payment of the ex-gratia on the challenges with the national budget, which he said was affecting all districts across the country.
He also revealed that they had failed to raise sufficient resources from local revenue to pay the councilors their sitting allowances.
Ismail Mushemeza the Kitwagwenda District LC V chairperson, who also heads the district executive committee couldn’t be reached for comment on his known mobile phone contact. Kitagwenda was created in 2019 by Act of Parliament and was curved out of Kamwenge District.
