Kassanda village chairperson rise up against corrupt district officials

Village chairpersons in Kassanda district  have raised complaints over missing village funds they have been receiving from local taxes accusing sub county and town council accusing technical officials of embezzling the money.

Having spent some time without receiving the 25% of the funds from local taxes collected in their villages, the Nkonge village Chairperson Laban Byakatonda  reported  the matter to the minister of local governments Raphael Magyezi for intervention.

Byakatonda accused the new town Clerk for Bukuya Town council Robbinah Nakabirye of failing to give them the required percentage of the the taxes collected.

"In 2022 we used to get shs400,000 and even last year ,the money came after collection of taxes but  ever since we got a new town clerk , she only gave me shs50,000," Byakatonda said.

"I decided to go to the minister for local government who in turn  ordered the district chairperson to take action over this matter."

The district Chairperson for Kassanda Fredrick Kasirye Zzimula called for a stakeholders meeting at Bukuya Town council headquarters to solve the matter where the town clerk and the treasurer attended.

Chairpersons from the villages  complained about not getting the money  as required by law accusing technical officials of foul play.

" As village chairpersons, we are confused because the technical officials  only want us to escort them while collecting taxes but when it comes to knowing the actual amounts they have collected, we are not told. We actually dont know how much we are to get."

Byakatonda pinned the Bukuya town clerk Robbinah Nakabirye accusing her of continued deductions of the monies they used to get leaving them with unanswered questions.

In response, Nabirye said government hadn't yet sent money, adding that as local governments, they no longer have access to taxes, leading to delays in giving village chairpersons the deductions from taxes collected.

She noted  that they decided to pay a uniform amount as they wait for government pay.

" We all know the cause of this and let's wait for the government to process our money as a town council because it's now mandatory that local governments have to submit all taxes ."

During  meeting, the district chairperson tasked the treasurer for Bukuya Town council, Samuel Kalule to give the accountability of the money disbursed where each chairperson was supposed to receive shs50,000.

Amidst his presentation, Kalule said chairperson lack knowledge on the matter, which didnt augur well with them.

In response, village chairpersons asked the  LC5 chairperson to transfer him together with the town clerk saying they are uncomfortable with them.

"We are tired of these people because they have failed to give a proper  accountability and are  instead undermining us. We want new technical officers who are not corrupt."

Zzimula promised to keep following up on the matter and promised to take action after investigations.