Editor
Bushenyi District has approved budget estimates and a development plan totaling 42 billion UGX for the financial year 2024-25, with local government officials in attendance.
Previously, councilors had refused to approve the budget estimates without intervention from the Ministry of Local Government. This standoff arose from a conflict between the councilors and district heads of departments. The councilors accused Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) John Nyakahuma, Principal Senior Secretary Dan Taratwebirwe, and other department heads of abandoning a council meeting held on May 7, 2024, without providing an explanation or seeking permission from the speaker, which they viewed as disrespectful.
In a letter dated May 29, read by the Commissioner of Local Government in charge of local council development, Swis Mugyema, the Minister of Local Government directed that CAO John Nyakahuma be recalled to the ministry for further management. Additionally, Dan Taratwebirwe was to be referred to the District Service Commission for disciplinary action, and the Deputy CAO was instructed to appoint another senior officer to act as clerk to the council. Councilors plan to petition Minister of Local Government Raphael Magyezi regarding these matters.
The budget, presented by Secretary for Finance Tumwijukye Didas, indicated that the total of 42.035 billion UGX includes 808 million UGX (1.9%) from local sources, with the majority, over 39.3 billion UGX (94%), coming as grants from the central government.
Out of 37 councilors, only 17 attended the budget estimates approval meeting, despite continuous engagements throughout the day by officials from the Ministry of Local Government.
