A deepening leadership wrangle has emerged within the Kawempe Division Council over who holds the legal authority to convene council sittings, exposing growing tensions between political leaders and the technical wing of the division administration.
The disagreement came to the fore during a heated council session chaired by Daniel Mayombwe Kigozi, where leaders openly clashed over the role played by the Town Clerk and the senior management team in organizing the sitting without what the Speaker described as his approval.
Speaking during the session, Kawempe Division Mayor Emmanuel Sserunjogi defended the decision to proceed with the council meeting, arguing that there was no lawful basis to postpone it.
“To my knowledge, there was no reason whatsoever that I could put on paper to justify extending the time because of A, B, C, D, or E. Such reasons were simply not available to me,” Sserunjogi said.
He maintained that he had never obstructed council business and emphasized the need for leaders to utilize official time productively.
“This is government time, and we should use it fruitfully,” he added.
However, Speaker Kigozi strongly objected to what he termed interference by the Town Clerk and the management team, insisting that the law exclusively grants the Speaker powers to convene council meetings.
“This is the council, and according to the law, the only person with the authority to constitute or convene the council is the Speaker. It is not the Town Clerk, and it is not the management team,” the Speaker said.
Kigozi further accused the Town Clerk of disrespecting the authority of the council and misleading members regarding earlier communications on postponing the sitting.
“Mr. Town Clerk, you should respect the council and avoid saying that the management sat and made decisions on behalf of the council,” he added.
Despite the standoff, the council proceeded with discussions on proposed changes in committee leadership.
The Speaker proposed Madam Anitimu to head the Health and Education portfolio, while Deputy Mayor Joseph Kibuga was proposed to take charge of the Finance portfolio as the Speaker assumes leadership of the Audit Committee.
The developments underscore widening divisions within the Kawempe Division leadership over administrative authority, governance procedures, and the management of council affairs.