By Weswa Ronnie
MANAFWA
There is a brewing conflict between the Manafwa LC5 Chairman and his councilors over the creation of a new Municipality in the district.
Kosea Kigai has been accused by a section of councilors of forging Council minutes and subsequently writing a letter to the Ministry of Local Government requesting government to give Butiru a Municipality instead of Bubulo as earlier passed by Council.
Last week, among 26 proposed municipalities in the country which will be approved before the 2026 general election, Bubulo municipality in Manafwa district and Sironko municipality in Sironko appeared for Bugisu region on the list which the Ministry of Local government published in the media.
According to John Wangolo, a councilor representing Buweswa Sub County in Manafwa district, their LCV chairperson with a few district executive members had a meeting last week and came up with a letter to the ministry of local government asking it to give Butiru municipality leaving out Bubulo which the council passed in 2018.
He says that in 2018, Manafwa district council sat and passed the creation of new two administrative units, i.e Butiru constituency and Bubulo Municipality.
Wangolo also says that in 2020, government approved Butiru Constituency but Bubulo municipality was not which is coming in the coming slot before 2026 elections.
Rex Wangolo, one of the opinion leaders in Manafwa says that they want the LCV chairperson to withdraw the statement and that letter then ask for forgiveness from locals and other councilors.
He says that they are ready to match to the office of the LCV chairperson any day to seek facts before taking the next step.
Godfrey Kabele, the Manafwa town council to district councilor says that Manafwa district has never had a council meeting to pass the proposal of LCV Chairman adding that they wonder why the Chairman’s letter is having minutes and agenda of council sitting. He accused the LCV chairperson of forging things with the aim of achieving his personal selfish political interests.
However, Kosea while speaking to our reporter on Sunday, 6th October on phone dismissed the allegations saying he is not fighting the creation of Bubulo municipality.
He says that before the curving of Namisindwa in 2018, leaders sat and proposed the creation of Lwakhakha and Butiru municipalities.
Kosea argues that after seeing Bubulo appearing in the media as one of the municipalities government may grant, they decided to sit as district leaders and write to the ministry of local government to remind it about Butiru and Lwakhakha of Namisindwa but not that they are fighting the creation of Bubulo Municipality as majority of councilors and people at Manafwa think.
