EDITOR
A rift has erupted between the leaders of Kitagata Town Council and the Kitagata Hot Springs Management Committee over allegations of illegal fee collection at the Kitagata Hot Springs in Sheema District.
During a meeting organized by district officials for all leaders of Kitagata Town Council, held yesterday at the town council headquarters, David Twine, the Town Council Chairperson, revealed that the council had lost over 400 million Ugandan shillings in revenue over five years since the management committee took control of the hot springs.
Richard Kyaawe, a stakeholder, explained that in 2021, the President, through the Ministry of Local Government, directed the cessation of revenue collection from Ekitagata kya Mulago, a community-owned hot spring. Instead, the Ministry of Tourism was instructed to develop Ekitagata Ky’omugabe, a government-owned hot spring where the town council could legally collect revenue. This directive followed an incident where town council officials began forcefully collecting fees from locals to access the hot springs, sparking anger among the community.
A committee, formed under the President’s guidance to oversee the hot springs, has been accused by town council leaders of operating illegally by collecting funds in contravention of Ministry of Finance regulations.
Speaking at the meeting, Jemimah Buhanda, the Sheema District LC5 Chairperson, urged the town council leaders to adhere to proper procedures when addressing such issues.
Meanwhile, Ahebwomugisha Wilson, the Sheema District DISO, representing the Ministry of Local Government, requested the town clerk to compile a comprehensive report covering the past five financial years. This report would assess whether the town council indeed lost revenue after it was stopped from collecting fees from the hot springs.
