Local government minister Raphael Magyezi has likened Busia district council to a bar, expressing frustration with the ongoing internal conflicts and disorder within the council. Magyezi’s comments came after witnessing personal attacks and disorder during a meeting aimed at resolving the prolonged rift in the district council, which has hindered service delivery.
The minister presided over the meeting held at Chango Machyo Hall, the district headquarters, where tensions between a section of councillors and district chairperson Stephen Mugeni Wasike escalated. Despite Magyezi’s multiple attempts to mediate the conflict, the situation has worsened each time.
The conflict within the council, which dates back to its establishment in May 2021, involves disputes between the district executive committee (DEC) and council, conflicts with the district speaker, and confusion regarding the roles and limits of the executive committee and the chief administrative officer.
Despite Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja’s previous attempt to bring an end to the conflict by inviting the entire district council and other stakeholders to her office, a resolution remains elusive.
Magyezi expressed concern about the continuous focus on conflict resolution rather than district development, emphasizing that something is amiss in the district.
Notably, Busia district is currently operating without an approved budget paper, six months into the financial year. When Magyezi inquired about the budget, Chief Administrative Officer Alex Felix Majeme claimed not to have a copy, revealing a lack of clarity on what the DEC and CAO were implementing.
A dispute over the chairperson’s transport allowance has further complicated matters, leading to the hiding of the approved budget paper. Magyezi ordered an auditor to examine the authenticity of the budget.
Acknowledging the confusion within the district, Magyezi announced plans to commission a human resource audit, pointing out an inverted human resource system. He emphasized the need for stability in all districts and underscored his commitment to ensuring peaceful governance.
During the meeting, councillors voiced their concerns, blaming Mugeni for attempting to usurp the roles of the council, speaker, and CAO, while others accused technical officers of bias and claimed the speaker was contributing to the conflict.
Magyezi, concluding the meeting, urged the district council members to fulfill their elected responsibilities in advancing the district’s progress. He emphasized that despite ongoing conflicts, the government continues to allocate funds, yet little progress has been achieved.
