The ten district councilors in Gulu who were affected by Constitutional Court ruling on change of political allegiance, insist that they will attend the last council session scheduled for Tuesday, despite their sacking.
They say they have never been informed in writing to stay out of the sitting and can not allow public trust vested in them get corrupted by mere announcement.
Komakech Patrick, the LCV Councilor for Patiko Sub County says he is an elected leader and cannot be sacked like civil servants. He says he it was illegal for them to stay in council based on the court ruling, he should have been informed in writing by the CAO, Clerk to Council or local government Minister.
The councilors were sacked on April 28th.
Gulu district council failed to pass its three year development plan and deliberate on extending the boundary of Gulu Municipal to pave way for a city status when CAO Abdallah Kiganda announced in parliament that he had been directed by Local Government Ministry to throw out the councilors that changed allegiance from the parties that took them to council.
The announcement also affected some members of the executive and the deputy Speaker Oola Patrick Lumumba.
The absence of the district Speaker Ojara Martin Mapenduzi forced the council to suspend all sittings as the ten councilors sought legal interpretation of the Article 23 of Amended local Act 2010.
But the Speaker has returned from the UK and arranged the last council meeting for tomorrow.
Alex Otim, the councilor representing the people of Paicho Sub County says he will mobilize his electorates to go and present their views on the three year development plan should he be barred from participation.
Oola Patrick Lumumba says neither the speaker nor the clerk to council has written to stop or invite him for tomorrow’s sitting.
Ojara Martin Mapenduzi, the speaker could not be reached for comments as his mobile phones were switched off.
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