By Weswa Ronnie
NAMISNDWA
It was drama this morning, 21st March, 2024 at Namisindwa district after the Budget Laying for FY2024/2025 flopped because of lack of quorum.
According to Ronald Butsiba, the Deputy Speaker of Namisindwa district, they had circulated invitation letters and paid allowances to all councilors a week ago but they were shocked to see the same councilors boycotting council where the main Agenda on the Order Paper was to lay the budget of 2024/2025.
He says that by 1.00 pm when council businesses were supposed to be ongoing, only six councilors had arrived and signed in the arrival book. And the 6 are all Executive members out of a total number of 36 councilors.
Butsiba also says that according to the local government act, he failed to conduct council businesses due to lack of quorum.
However, Perez Weswa, the chief whip also councilor representing Bungati Sub County says that they held a caucus meeting with all councilors on Tuesday, 19th March and unanimously passed a resolution not to attend Council meeting today to lay the budget of 2024/2025.
He says that they want the executive to first give them the study tour which was passed in the last budget and then accountability of the last budget 2023/2024 which they passed before a new one can be laid.
Noor Mwelu, Councilor representing Bukhabusi Sub County also says that they are ready to be called upon any time or day and lay the budget of 2024/2025 if the executive fulfills their demands arguing that if their terms are not met, they will continue with the boycott.
He says that that study tour was going to help them to gain knowledge such that they can know how to articulate issues in council well.
Emma Bwayo, councilor representing male youth at the district expressed his disappointment with unfulfilled pledges by Namisindwa district local government which forced councilors to boycott the council meeting.
He says that the executive should know that they are punishing tax payers not councilors.
However, Kitumbesi Bwayo, the Namisindwa district vice LCV chairperson when contacted on the phone denied having any information on councilors’ demands.
