Nakawa councillors suspend session over food

Nakawa Councillors yesterday voted to suspend a council meeting after failure to get breakfast and lunch.

The ordinary end of year council meeting chaired by Nakawa Mayor Balimwezo Ronald Nsubuga kicked off at about 11:20AM. However, before it started, Male youth councillor Allan Mwesigye notified the Mayor that they had not been served breakfast.

The council proceeded as Balimwezo addressed councillors for over 90 minutes. After Balimwezo's address, Allan Mwesigye notified the mayor that there was no indication that they were going to be served lunch yet lunch time was approaching.

This prompted Balimwezo to ask councillors on what to do. One of the councillors, Kalule Ali Ssalongo, proposed that the meeting be deferred until Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) provides lunch for them. He argued that they have been taken for granted and it's time Nakawa councillors stood up to show that they are serious.

Food and drinks are supposed to be provided by KCCA whenever Division councils meet. For Nakawa, Balimwezo said this is not the first time that KCCA is failing to provide food for councillors.

Kalule Ali Ssalongo moved a motion that council discuss only the issue of a man who fell in a trench and died on Saturday night and then suspend the council until the technical wing is ready to provide meals for them.

Man falls in trench, dies; Family want KCCA to compensate them

Kalule Ali Ssalongo motion to suspend the council was unanimously supported by all council members. The council last decided to introduce cost cutting measures in a bid to save money for construction of the division offices. Kalule argues that if KCCA is asked how much it has saved, it may not produce a single shilling.

Kalule argued that the next council sitting be taken to Hotel Africana or any other Hotel because when they go to hotels, food and drinks will be readily available.

Nakawa Town Clerk Rosette Natumanya was forced to apologise for the delay, promising councillors that food was on the way coming. She said the technical wing at KCCA had been informed of the meeting and they promised that food was on the way.

The councillors were later served sodas and cakes. Jokingly, a councillor said: "This cake cost Uganda shillings 500 and the soda costs Uganda shillings 1000. Is our lunch worth only this money? We should be serious."

Balimwezo noted as he concluded the council; "This is what I have been saying. How can we have a town clerk without budget? We have to first beg to get breakfast, lunch and even toilet paper from KCCA? "

Allan Mwesigye said on the sidelines of the council that there is a growing tendency for KCCA technical wing to disrespect the political wing.

The council meeting will tentatively resume on Friday.