A storm has erupted in Jinja District after the Minister of Local Government, Balaam Barugahara, ordered Chief Administrative Officer Lilian Nakamatte to step aside with immediate effect over allegations of corruption, abuse of office, and failure to implement council resolutions. The directive was issued during a heated special council session that exposed deep divisions within the district leadership.
The dramatic development followed the presentation of a memorandum by Jinja District Speaker Simon Kibombo, who accused the CAO of disregarding decisions made by elected leaders and presiding over an administration plagued by accountability concerns. Councillors argued that repeated failures to act on council resolutions had negatively affected service delivery and public confidence in the district administration.At the center of the controversy is a district coaster that councillors say should have been disposed of years ago.
Despite a council resolution recommending its disposal, funds amounting to Shs15 million have reportedly continued to be allocated for repairs over several financial years. Leaders questioned why public resources were still being spent on the vehicle despite previous decisions to remove it from service.Councillors also accused the district administration of withholding critical project information. They claimed that bills of quantities for government-funded projects were not being shared with relevant committees, making it difficult to verify costs, assess value for money, and effectively monitor ongoing works across the district.The accusations did not stop there. Several leaders alleged that corruption complaints emerging from different departments were not being addressed adequately, creating an environment where misconduct could thrive unchecked.
They warned that such failures had contributed to inefficiency and slowed the implementation of key development programmes.Some councillors further argued that Nakamatte’s extended stay in Jinja District may have contributed to the current challenges. They maintained that senior civil servants should be transferred periodically to avoid overfamiliarity and ensure fresh approaches to administration and public service delivery.Nakamatte, however, strongly rejected all the allegations. She described the claims as unfair and politically motivated, insisting that many of the disagreements stem from misunderstandings about the roles of technical officers and elected leaders.
She called for comprehensive induction programmes for councillors to improve cooperation and reduce unnecessary conflicts within the district.After listening to both sides, Minister Balaam directed Nakamatte to hand over office to her deputy pending investigations. He also instructed the State House Anti-Corruption Unit and the Inspectorate of Government to investigate the allegations and submit their findings within two weeks. The investigations are expected to examine claims of financial mismanagement, procurement irregularities, failure to implement council decisions, and the handling of corruption complaints before a final decision is made on her future in office.
