Tension and chaos engulfed the final sitting of the Wakiso District Council on Tuesday after councillors clashed over the approval of members to the District Service Commission, forcing police to intervene and disrupting proceedings on the district’s 2026/2027 budget.
The dramatic session, which marked the last council sitting for councillors completing their five-year term, descended into disorder after a proposal was tabled seeking approval of individuals to serve on the District Service Commission.
The proposal immediately divided councillors. Some supported the move, arguing it was necessary to restore functionality to a key district body, while others insisted the outgoing council lacked the mandate to approve such appointments.
Supporters of the motion argued that the district had gone for about eight months without a functional Service Commission following the expiry of the previous committee’s term.
“We cannot continue operating without a Service Commission because it affects recruitment and service delivery in the district,” one councillor said during the heated debate.
However, opposing councillors maintained that the matter should be handled by the incoming council.
“This is not the right time for this council to pass such a sensitive committee. The next council should handle it,” another councillor argued.
The disagreement quickly escalated into shouting matches and accusations, with tempers rising as councillors confronted each other over the legitimacy of the decision-making process.
The situation worsened, prompting police officers from Wakiso District to enter the council chambers in an effort to restore order.
Their presence, however, further angered some councillors, who questioned the deployment of security personnel inside the council sitting.
Tensions reached a peak after the Speaker directed councillors to proceed to a vote on the proposal.
The majority voted in favour of approving the Service Commission members, triggering renewed uproar from those opposed to the decision.
In the ensuing commotion, some councillors reportedly attempted to grab the Speaker’s mace in protest against the resolutions passed, but were restrained by colleagues and police officers who intervened to prevent further escalation.
The chaos disrupted further proceedings, including deliberations on the district’s proposed 2026/2027 budget, which was only partially presented and left unapproved by the end of the sitting.
The disruption effectively stalled one of the council’s most important responsibilities, raising concerns about governance continuity in the district as the transition to a new council approaches.
Speaking after the heated session, the Speaker defended the council’s actions, insisting that the procedures followed were lawful.
“We acted within the law and the council made its decision through voting,” the Speaker said.
District officials, including the Chief Administrative Officer and other leaders, later exchanged blame over the incident, further exposing divisions within the district leadership during the final council sitting.
The incident comes at a time when newly elected local government leaders are preparing to assume office, with councillors expected to take their oath later this week, setting the stage for a new administrative cycle in Wakiso District.
