EDITOR
Ntungamo district councilors on Wednesday closed the offices of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), the Salaries Department, and the Principal Human Resources Officer (HR) following a dispute with the CAO over a council resolution. The resolution directed him to request the HR officer to step aside for investigations into alleged payroll mismanagement and corruption.
On December 19, 2024, councilors, acting on a motion by Itojo Sub-county Councilor Muhumuza Denis Savimbi, recommended the removal of Ms. Jennifer Muheirwe, the Principal HR Officer, and Mr. Julius Asiimwe, the Information Technology (IT) Officer in charge of salaries. They accused the two of overstepping their authority by reinstating absconded workers onto the payroll without following due process.
Councilors were angered by an action memo presented to the council, which stated that the matter had been referred to the police for investigation. Presided over by District Speaker Mr. Nicholas Twikirize Mugyenyi, the council protested the continued presence of the accused officers in office despite the resolution requiring them to step aside during the investigations.
Nyamunuka Town Council Councilor Ms. Aidah Kebirungi moved a motion to petition security officials for the immediate removal of the officers. Addressing the council, Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Ms. Rosemary Atuhaire backed the councilors, who demanded that the CAO interdict the two officers immediately or be held accountable.
Ntungamo Sub-county Councilor Mr. Naboth Mpereirwe criticized inefficiencies in the HR office, citing the annual return of unspent wage bill funds. He noted that UShs 1.8 billion was returned unutilized in the last financial year, with even larger amounts in previous years.
Following a march to the RDC’s office, a district security committee meeting was convened to address the matter. However, the issue remained unresolved as CAO Mr. Mathias Ndifuna maintained that due process had to be followed before interdicting the officers. In response, councilors shut down his office, accusing him of protecting the implicated officials.
Ms. Muheirwe is accused of unlawfully reinstating health workers to the payroll despite their absence from service for over a decade.
