Mathias Mpuuga, the Masaka Municipality Member of Parliament is intervening to end the power struggle between Mayor Godfrey Kayemba and Town Clerk Johnson Baryantuma.
The two officials are not on talking terms after Baryantuma refused to release funds for road maintenance in the municipality despite the fact that council had approved the move.
Kayemba claims that Baryantuma embezzled up to one billion shillings released by the ministry of works for road maintenance in the first and second quota of this financial year. Baryantuma, however, denies the allegations and accuses Kayemba of running a smear campaign against him. He also accuses the mayor of making his work impossible in Masaka.
The Kayemba-Baryantuma power struggle, similar to the standoff between Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and executive director Jennifer Musisi, has paralyzed service delivery in Masaka town.
As a result of these accusations and counter accusations, MP Mpuuga is mediating between the two officials. Mpuuga has already met with the Mayor Kayemba to listen to his side of the story and plans to meet the town clerk this week.
MP Mpuuga told URN on Tuesday that he decided to intervene because it is his responsibility as area Member of Parliament to use his short holiday to end the standoff. He says his preliminary investigations show both Baryantuma and Kayemba have failed to understand the local government act.
Mpuuga warns Baryantuma against meddling in politics which has seen him divert from his technical work to politicking
Kayemba says he has no problem with the town clerk but he is concerned about his failure to implement council resolutions. Kayemba says council is a supreme body whose resolutions must be respected since it is legally mandated by the local government act.
But Baryantuma has told URN that the mayor’s concerns have been answered. He claims that in two weeks, rehabilitation of roads will start.
Baryantuma also says he has no problem meeting with MP Mpuuga.
