Hoima district chairman Uthman Mugisha has revealed intention to petition the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Local Government to transfer the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Kumakech Oluba.
Mr Mugisha told Nile Post in an exclusive interview that the CAO has been taking political sides with his former political competitors and the group led by Savanah Muhumuza.
Mugisha knew the political situation was over, he (Kumakech) continued meeting Savannah, and siding with councilors and the district speaker to fail his mandate.
“Kumakech continues being political seating with people who don’t support me to fail me, while all would be ok, but when he goes political it becomes hard for me to trust and work with him freely,” he said.
“So I want the ministry to transfer him and bring me a CAO I will freely work with who is apolitical and focused on serving and guiding the district.”
Mugisha said he can deal with technical disagreements, but not politics.
“I have met him several times in his office asking him to let go of politics and we work, but this seem not possible,” he said.
“I want a new CAO, or else people of Hoima should not blame me for failing, the technical head is failing me and that’s Kumakech.”
Mugisha accuses the CAO of working with the council to pass a resolution to evict Hoima City East police headquarters in Kasingo and to fail thee construction of a regional blood bank in the same area.
“How can government fight government? The coming of Hoima City East police headquarters in Kasingo has seen a reduction in crime, look at that regional blood bank, to whose interest was it to have it there? Do we still really need such a person?” Mugisha said.
Mugisha, who was a clinical officer at Kigorobya Health Centre before he resigned to stand for chairman LC V seat after the death of his father Kadiri Kirungi, alleges that Kumakech does not respect him and his office and still treats him like a junior.
When contacted, Kumakech said he is noted bothered by the accusations, confirming that he has not broken any law, and follows his professional work ethics.
“I’m not moved by his accusations, I received that letter, but I have also heard him make statements on the same, it’s ok, let’s wait and see how it ends,” he said.
“I’m here to serve in accordance with the law, not siding with any politicians only when work demands so, I can’t avoid that.”
Michael Kyakashari, the Hoima deputy resident commissioner, showed concern that the fight between the two officials has gone that far, confirming that he has met the two, and they are planning to have a roundtable meeting to iron out these differences.
“These people have to tame their ego, I told them all people want is service delivery not these accusations,” he said.
