By Weswa Ronnie
NAMISINDWA
Namisindwa District has issued an official statement regarding allegations of allowing interdicted staff to continue working, as raised by the Bubulo East Member of Parliament, John Musila.
On Tuesday at Parliament, during a Local Government Public Accounts Committee (PAC) sitting chaired by Betty Nambooze Bakireke, MP for Mukono Municipality, Musila, who is a member of the committee, raised concerns with Balaam Barugahara, the Minister for Local Government, that some of the six district staff members recently interdicted in Namisindwa are still working currently.
Musila asked the Minister to carry out investigations to find out why the Chief Administrative Officer had left those staff working despite being under interdiction.
While speaking to our reporter this morning, Wednesday, Namisindwa Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Mathias Isabirye, said Musila was referring to Eddy Wesonga, the Town Clerk of Namisindwa Town Council.
He said his office interdicted Wesonga over allegations of diverting 9.5 million shillings while serving as Lwakhakha Town Council Town Clerk, following an Auditor General’s report.
Isabirye added that the interdiction was to be implemented, but later Wesonga picked up his interdiction letter. He clarified that Wesonga is not working, contrary to what Musila told the Minister and the Parliamentary Committee.
After contacting Eddy Wesonga on phone, he accused Musila of witch-hunting him always. He said he picked up his letter and is currently at home, not working, as Musila alleged.
He said he has petitioned the Ministry of Local Government and the district to lift his interdiction. He explained that in the financial year 2024/25, when the 9.5 million shillings was allegedly diverted, he was not serving as Lwakhakha Town Council Town Clerk, but had already been transferred to Namisindwa Town Council as Town Clerk.
Wesonga said he has given authorities one week to lift his interdiction, or else he will take the matter to court.
Emma Bwayo, the LCV Chairperson of Namisindwa District, said Musila is simply being malicious and appears determined to play the victim in every situation. Such conduct, he said, should be ignored by any reasonable person.
“We are going to organize an induction for some of these MPs to help them better understand local governance and save them from unnecessary embarrassment,” Bwayo said.
LCV Bwayo added that Musila is simply scared, but they remain focused and determined. He said his political maneuvers will be effectively countered.
Last month, drama erupted at Magale Town Council playground in Namisindwa district during a baraza meeting organized by the Minister for Local Government, Balaam Barugahara, after Musila reported to Balaam that Eddy Wesonga, the then Town Clerk of Namisindwa Town Council, is a Senior Four dropout. This nearly led to an exchange of blows with Namisindwa District LCV Chairperson Emma Bwayo, after he accused Musila of malice. Wesonga immediately presented all his academic documents to the Minister, which this publication didn’t verify to know whether they were his, genuine or not.
