Daniel Ssamula, Rakai Town clerk is in trouble for suing Apollo Sansa Kabumbuli, the Kamusswaga of Kooki Chiefdom without authorization from his council. The town council executive has passed a resolution recommending the transfer of Ssamula. Trouble for Ssamula started on March 12, 2012 when he dragged Kamusswaga to court for constructing a hotel and leisure park in a gazzetted green space.
He accused Kamusswaga of violation section46 of the physical planning act which bars encroachment on green spaces. But his case was thrown out last week by Douglas Singiiza, the Rakai Grate One Magistrate on the grounds that town clerk had sued the wrong person and failed to consult his council. Singiiza explained that Ssamula should have sued Kooki Chiefdom, which is behind the development and filed his application in High court.
He therefore dismissed the case and asked Ssamula to meet the costs of the suit in his individual capacity. As a result, the Rakai town council executive has passed recommending the transfer of Ssamula for suing Kabumbuli without consulting the council. Prima Ndeka, the Rakai town council LC3 Chairperson says that they have communicated to both the ministries of Public Service and Local Government to transfer Ssamula because he is fueling the conflict between the town council and Kooki chiefdom.
He says that legal suit against Kamusswaga has raised the tension between Chiefdom and town council, which occupies its buildings. He argues that to avoid worsening the relationship between Kooki Chiefdom and Rakai town Council, they want Ssamula out of Rakai.
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Denis Mukasa Mbidde, the Kooki Chiefdom Attorney General accuses Ssamula of oppressing the Chiefdom.
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David Kaboyo, the Rakai Resident District commissioner says he is investigating circumstances under which Ssamula decided to sue Kamusswaga without council approval. He says that preliminary investigations show that Ssamula has a personal grudge with Ananias Ssekyannzi, the Katikiro of Kooki chiefdom.
He says he wants to establish what caused the bad blood between the two officials. But Ssamula says that he plans to appeal the court ruling dismissing the case. He threatens to file another case in Masaka High court very soon. Ssamula says that he decided to file the cases an individual because Rakai town council authorities adamantly refused to heed to his technical advice on the need to spare the green space.
Ssamula says he is sure high court will order the demolition of the hotel and leisure park even after completion. Currently, construction of the disputed hotel and leisure center is still ongoing amidst tight security from UPDF soldiers.
