Members of the Parliamentary Local Government Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have suggested that Jinja City authorities should opt for negotiations rather than pursuing legal actions. They are worried about the growing number of court cases faced by Jinja City, especially during the 2020/2021 financial year, which have caused delays and the potential for fines.
The Auditor General’s report pointed out the city’s numerous court cases and a reluctance to attend court proceedings, which has led to prolonged resolution times and the risk of substantial fines if judgments do not favor the city. The report also expressed concerns about the possibility of collusion between some city authorities and plaintiffs in order to defraud the government through compensation claims.
Noah Mutebi, the acting PAC chairperson and Nakasongola MP, raised questions about why an established entity like Jinja City did not engage in negotiations before resorting to litigation. He emphasized that most of the ongoing court cases were related to land disputes, which can be costly in terms of legal fees and negatively impact service delivery.
Mutebi also expressed concerns about the city’s reluctance to cooperate with other government agencies in land surveying and titling, which could prevent land-related conflicts that lead to court cases. He highlighted cases where encroachers illegally title land and then sue Jinja City for trespass or denial of access, potentially resulting in substantial compensation payments. He argued that this could significantly reduce budgets for essential services.
In response, Jinja City clerk Edward Lwanga explained that they initially hired private lawyers in Jinja City to expedite proceedings. However, the Attorney General subsequently assigned six government lawyers to handle their cases in court. Lwanga also mentioned ongoing mediation processes aimed at reaching out-of-court settlements to save government resources.
