Edward Mwesigwa: Kikuube rejects district service commissioner

Mwesigwa's recommendation to be the Chairperson of the District Service Commission will now have to be subjected to intense scrutiny after the Council named a three-member ad hoc committee to look into his academic documents and integrity.

Edward Baligonzaki Mwesigwa scented the aroma of sautéed stew waft in his face when he was recommended for appointment to as the Kikuubo District Service Commission chairman and felt his taste buds react.

But as Mwesigwa licked his lips, some members of the District Council blocked the waitress from serving Mwesigwa, saying his integrity was questionable.

Mwesigwa's recommendation to be the Chairperson of the District Service Commission will now have to be subjected to intense scrutiny after the Council named a three-member ad hoc committee to look into his academic documents and integrity.

On December 24, the office fell vacant following the death of chairperson Anaclet Rurihona.

The district executive efforts to have a new service commission chair has now hit a brick wall twice after the Rev Fr Bosco Musinguzi he was twice rejected.

In the council sitting of March 27, Vincent Opio, the district vice chairman and leader of council business, presented a name of Edward Mwesigwa who has been a commission member for approval.

However, in a heated council debate, most councillors refused to approve Mwesigwa asking the speaker to institute a select committee to scrutinise his qualification for the job.

According to Nicholas Kiiza, councillor for workers , passing a name in the guise that he has been a commission member would render them unserious.

“Mr Speaker, I request that we go slow, there is no need for us to hurry," Kiiza said.

"You institute a select committee that will scrutinise the recommended person and we can pass the names in the second council."

Buhimba Subcounty councillor Deo Musinguzi noted that the fact that they approved Fr Musinguzi twice but he was rejected without reasons from public service means that this time they need to pay a lot of attention.

“Mr Speaker, there is no smoke without fire, let’s give it a benefit of doubt, investigate and present the name once we are sure of the person, we know we need the person but let’s go slow,” he said.

But Opio said both Kikuube and Buhimba councils as well as the executive had scrutinised Mwesigwa's candidature and approved hm.

“We have guidance from Attorney General, all two urban councils of Kikuube and Buhimba looked into tMwesigwa and found him befitting then why not pass his name?” Opio said.

The district chairman, Peter Banura, wondered what the intentions are for the council.

“Don’t force me to believe that the council is intentionally failing the commission," Banura said.

"Since December, it’s not constituted and this is affecting services especially with recruitment, lets follow the guidelines by our seniors,” he added.

In response, Speaker Christopher Nkalu told the council that the executive has powers to propose a name and the council has a mandate to scrutinise and pass the recommended person which they are doing.

“Mr Opio and Chairman Banura, you did your role of naming Mr Mwesigwa so let the council do their role, because in case of anything, the council will be blamed for not doing due diligence," Nkalu said.

The Speaker ruled that a three-member committee of William Agaba (youth representative), Edith Barungi (PWDS), and Nicholas Kiiza (Workers) should go to work.

Nkalu said the committee will scrutinize the documents of Mwesigwa and go as far as getting supporting documents of Uganda Certificate of Education and their experience, their records in office as members of the district service commission.

Also seconded for scrutiny was Nuriat Kabonesa, who is supposed to be a member of the service commission.