Raphael Kisekka, Kalungu district Speaker, is in trouble after 8 councillors signed a notice to remove him from office citing incompetence.
In a notice dated 2nd July signed by 8 out of 16 councillors led by Ruth Komugisha, the Kyamuliibwa sub-county councillor, and Prossy Namata, the Deputy Speaker, copied to RDC Tom Sserwanja, CAO Bruno Mwaita: the councillors accuse Raphael Kisekka of taking major decisions without Council’s consent and approval.
Komugisha claims that Kiseeka on several occasions has failed to preside over Council meetings objectively. They claim that he denies councillors likely to contradict him a chance to deliberate during council sessions.
Komugisha claims that Kisekka always gives right to debate to Charles Sserwanja, the Bukulura sub county councillor, and Gerald Kiggundu and others who promote his personal interests.
She further claims that Kisekka also encroaches on the legal mandate of the District Chairperson as stipulated in Section 13 of Local Government Act on top of his deliberate refusal to abide with the approved work schedule.
Ronald Lubega, one of the councillors who signed the notice, claims that Kisekka also takes major decisions without councils’ approval and consent which contravenes the local government act.
Lubega said that on 29th June, when Secretary for Finance presented the draft budget estimate for 2012-2013 financial year, and moved the Council to consider the approval of the Vote on Account as required by the law to operate for the first quarter , Kisekka ruled that the motion to consider on Vote on Account should not be entertained without seeking approval of Council thus usurping on the powers conferred on Council.
Councillors also accuse Kisekka of failing to give full attention to his duties as speaker. They claim that he spends most of his time in Masaka town attending to his personal; businesses.
Other councillors who have signed the notice seeking for Kisekka’s censure include Ronald Ssenyondo, Hajati Lukiya Muzeyi, Harriet Makumbi, Grace Nabulya, Maria Nabaggala and Ronald Lubega.
However, Kisekka has refuted all allegations brought against him saying that the councillors are just politicking.
Kisekka says that councillors are being misled by Tom Sserwanja, the Resident District Commissioner, who has his own political ambitions to fulfil. He said that the move is aimed at removing him from office because he is a Democratic Party supporter and the RDC want to influence councillors to vote in an NRM leaning speaker.
Kisekka reminded the mover of the notice that removing him from office does not require numbers adding that procedures which are followed to impeach the speaker are clear.
Meanwhile Marjorie Namyal, the Clerk to Council, has submitted a letter dated 13th July to Local Government Minister Adolf Mwesigye asking him to intervene in the matter.
