Mbarara City Councillors Demand Urgent Action Amid Governance Crisis
The councillors had set a January 16, 2025, deadline for the meeting, but it passed without action from City Town Clerk Assy Abireebe Tumwesigire or other city leaders.
A group of eight Mbarara City councillors has raised the alarm over delays in convening an extraordinary council meeting, initially requested to address pressing governance issues.
The councillors had set a January 16, 2025, deadline for the meeting, but it passed without action from City Town Clerk Assy Abireebe Tumwesigire or other city leaders.
The councillors are seeking accountability for the alleged mismanagement of 4.2 billion shillings, irregularities in the Bishop Stuart–Buremba Road project, and a lingering arbitration dispute with MBJ Consults.
They also highlighted concerns over unspent budget balances, unresolved staff matters, and deteriorating service delivery in the city.
In a letter dated January 9, 2025, addressed to Mayor Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi, the councillors expressed their frustration with the Town Clerk’s failure to respond to an earlier communication sent on December 23, 2024.
“The matters outlined in that letter, which was copied to you, are of significant importance to both government and transparency within the city. Yet, no formal acknowledgement or response has been provided to date,” they wrote.
Invoking Part II, Section 13 of the council’s Standard Rules of Procedure, the councillors demanded the emergency meeting, warning that the unresolved issues directly impact the city's governance and public trust.
“As these issues directly impact the city's administrative process and the rights of the public, it is critical that the City Council sitting convenes promptly to address the situation,” the letter stated.
The councillors’ unmet demands have intensified concerns over governance and transparency in Mbarara City. They cautioned that continued inaction risks eroding public confidence in the administration and further worsening service delivery.
As pressure mounts, city leaders are being called upon to act swiftly and decisively to resolve the growing crisis.
