New councils pulling strings over allowances in 2011

Salary Rift in Fort Portal Threatens Service Delivery

Felix Basiime & Geoffrey Mutegeki

29 August 2011 [http://allafrica.com/stories/201108291803.html]

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It all started with pay cheque amendments but the tides are looking ever volatile now, threatening to hit the core of Fort Portal Municipality and wash away the dreams its leaders hold for it.

On Thursday, mayor Edison Asaba Ruyonga and his deputy Margaret Kihika stormed out of a council session at Musisa Hall in protest after the council maintained their earlier position to reduce the mayor's emoluments from Shs2.8 million as proposed by the executive to Shs2 million per month.

The rift between the mayors and the council is widening and some councillors are considering disciplinary actions. "The mayor and his deputy are undermining us. This is the second time they are running out of this council. It is bad if they want cooperation we should be one and deliberate together," a councillor, who preferred anonymity, said.

The court petition

Mr Ruyonga and Ms Kihika in July dragged the council to court accusing it of reducing their emoluments. This was after the councillors in a June 27 session reasoned that the allowances received by the two officials are higher compared to other municipalities in the country, yet service delivery was still poor.

In the previous council (2006-2010), the mayor received Shs4.9 million as allowances per month, but the new council cut it down to Shs2.8 million. However, Mr Ruyonga and Ms Kihika said the manner in which the resolution was arrived at was illegal and petitioned court.

On July 12, the High Court in Fort Portal issued an interim injunction staying the decision by the council until the main application by the two officials is heard and determined on January 18, 2012.

This, however, created tension and conflicts between the councillors and the mayors. Attempts by Kabarole District NRM caucus chaired by Local Government Minister Adolf Mwesige to have the parties settle their differences, hit a snag early this month.

The NRM caucus asked Mr Ruyonga and Ms Kihika to withdraw the case and settle the matter outside court but the mayor demanded that the council foots the legal costs.

Mr Mwesige is said to have advised the councillors that according to the Local Government Act, it is not the council that determines allowances for its councilors, but the ministry and that the councillors have no powers to reduce or increase allowances.

Legislator calls for unity

Meanwhile, Kabarole Woman MP Victoria Businge Rusoke has challenged the council to end their conflicts and focus on service delivery and development of the town. 

"These conflicts are diverting us from our work and focus of service delivery. You are not doing what you are supposed to do to the people. We need to cooperate, respect each other and serve the people accordingly," Ms Rusoke told the council session that she attended as an ex-officio after the mayors stormed out.

Councillor Gilbert Kayondo said: "The town has no power, sign posts are not in place but we are here arguing over emoluments. We came to work for our people so let's fulfil it."