NEWS- A faction of Kanungu district Councilors, led by their district speaker Frank Byaruhanga, has issued a warning to the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Hon Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, who also serves as the Kinkiizi county legislator.
The councilors expressed their discontent a few days after the minister organized a meeting at the Kanungu district council hall on December 30, 2023. During the meeting, Byaruhanga alleges that the minister disrespected the council by abusing the speaker and the district chairperson, causing disruption among the attendees.
Byaruhanga claims that the council has repeatedly passed resolutions, directing the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to implement them. However, the CAO allegedly collaborates with Minister Baryomunsi to thwart these resolutions, prompting the council to initiate the process of seeking the CAO’s transfer.
The district speaker emphasizes the importance of the CAO implementing council resolutions, expressing concern that they are consistently disregarded. Byaruhanga suggests that Minister Baryomunsi should understand his limitations, participate as a councilor, and engage in the resolution process rather than obstructing it, leading to confusion within the council.
In response, Minister Baryomunsi dismisses the accusations as an attempt to tarnish his name and undermine his responsibilities. He asserts that the CAO’s role is to safeguard government property and implement laws passed by district councilors. Baryomunsi alleges that the district speaker, the district chairperson, and a faction of 15 out of 49 councilors are harassing the CAO and seeking his transfer, a claim denied by Speaker Frank Byaruhanga, who labels it as baseless.
Minister Baryomunsi believes these actions are an orchestrated effort to discredit him but asserts that it will not impact his position in Parliament.
Members who attended the meeting also asked the minister why the Rukungiri -Kanungu road design was changed because it passed through Nyamirama yet it was to pass via Enengo to Kambuga but which he responded that in 2018 the president asserted it clearly that the engineers where responsible for doing the road design therefore he had nothing to do with it may be lobby from government to extend an arm to Kambuga hospital either from Kanungu Town or From Nyamirama.
What did the Minister tell Kinkizi East leaders in a meeting on Saturday 30th December that rubbed District Speaker Frank Byaruhanga from Mpungu the wrong way?
Minister Baryomunsi convened a constituency meeting on Saturday comprising of district councillors, LC3 Chairpersons and sub county NRM Chairpersons. Other leaders especially sub county councillors and NRM Mobilisers attended and the Minister allowed them. During the meeting, the Minister raised a number of issues including;
1. He publicly asked why over 600m shs meant for road maintenance is lying on the district accounts yet the roads are bad? He told the meeting that an additional 250m will be released to the district in January and 250m in April. He guided on how the additional 1bn for road maintenance is supposed to be used.
2.He further asked why the district leadership is always quarrelling with the CAOs yet some issues can be solved through constructive engagement behind the scenes? He asked the Councillors why they are forcing the CAO to pay for blocks which were declared substandard and unfit for use to construct public buildings? He further said in 2 years Kanungu has had 3 CAOs and all of them are always harassed by district leadership. Why?
3. He asked why the District Chairperson allowed the Autoclave machine at Rugyeyo Health Centre 4 be taken at night by JMS on the pretext that there was a debt yet the district could have asked the Ministry of Health/government to pay the alleged debt of 100m shs.
4. He criticized the conduct of the Council where there are cliques and factions. He had received complaints that some Councillors cannot be allowed to speak yet others speak over 10 times in a sitting.
According to the information on table , The Kanungu Resident district commissioner Mr.Ambrose Amanyire Mwesigye is preparing a reconciliation meeting which will be attended by Kanungu district MPs, Chairperson, Deputy RDC , District Speaker, CAO and District NRM Chairperson on Friday this week in Kampala.
We will keep you updated on what will unfold in the reconciliation meeting
