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Councilors of Jinja city have made a unanimous decision to retain their positions on various council committees, even after the completion of their designated two-and-a-half-year terms.
Contrary to the legal requirement for local government representatives to rotate committee roles every two and a half years, Jinja city councilors have chosen to maintain the status quo. This decision was reached during a council meeting held on Friday at the headquarters chamber, chaired by Speaker Bernard Mbayo.
During the session, councilors rallied behind a proposal put forth by Richard Mbaziira to uphold the current committee assignments. Mbaziira, a member of the works committee, expressed the collective sentiment that councilors were content with their current roles.
The council is comprised of three key committees: Finance, Social Services, and Works, each led by FDC representatives Agnes Kadama (Jinja West), Caroline Namitenzi (Youth), and Boniface Wabwire, respectively.
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While Agnes Kadama swiftly seconded Mbaziira’s motion, Ivan Kameze of Jinja North Central (formerly Mafubira sub-county) voiced opposition, citing procedural irregularities.
In an interview with New Vision Online, Kameze, a member of the National Unity Platform (NUP), criticized the Speaker for failing to guide the council appropriately. He argued that all committees should have been dissolved following the expiration of their tenure.
Moreover, Kameze highlighted a vacancy within the finance committee due to the resignation of Lilian Sansa (Elderly). Despite these issues, Kameze accused Speaker Mbayo of allowing the flouting of procedural norms.
Kameze emphasized the importance of adhering to guidelines, stating that although consensus may dictate maintaining the status quo, procedural integrity must not be compromised.
He recounted the previous election for committee chairpersons in 2021, where he contested against Namitenzi but received an equal number of votes. He mentioned that the council’s clerk, Rajab Kitto, had guided them on the tenure duration and the subsequent need for changes.
Despite this guidance, Kameze expressed disappointment at the council’s decision to retain committee positions. He noted discrepancies in committee compositions, highlighting instances where committees had unequal member numbers.
While Mbayo attributed the delay in the meeting’s commencement to councilors’ tardiness, the decision to maintain committee roles despite their expiry remains a contentious issue within the Jinja city council.
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