Minister Balaam Orders Jinja CAO to Step Aside Amidst Corruption Allegations

In a move aimed at tackling alleged corruption, Minister of Local Government, Balaam Barugahara, has ordered Lilian Nakamatte, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Jinja District, to step aside. This directive comes in response to a memorandum presented during a special Jinja District Council sitting, detailing accusations of corruption and failure to implement council resolutions.

Council Speaker Simon Kibombo reportedly accused Nakamatte of deliberately ignoring council decisions, which has allegedly hampered service delivery and led to financial losses. Specific concerns include the persistent allocation of Shs 15 million for the repair of an old district coaster, despite the council having resolved to sell the vehicle. This repair budget has allegedly appeared in the district’s financial plans for three consecutive years without council approval.

Further accusations suggest Nakamatte failed to provide essential project documents, like Bills of Quantities (BoQs), to council committees, impeding their oversight role. The CAO is also alleged to have not addressed corruption scandals in various district departments, undermining accountability. It’s also claimed she colluded with the District LC V Chairperson, Moses Batwala, to conceal these alleged corrupt practices.

Some councilors, like Billy Kasense, argued that Nakamatte’s tenure of over five years in the district has led to complacency. He suggested that CAOs should typically serve no more than five years in one location to ensure effective performance.

Nakamatte, however, has refuted the claims, suggesting they are an attempt to damage her reputation. She attributed many of the disagreements to a lack of understanding among first-term councillors regarding the distinct roles of political and technical officials, advocating for an induction program to clarify responsibilities.

Despite her defence, Minister Barugahara has mandated Nakamatte to hand over her duties to her deputy immediately. The State House Anti-Corruption Unit and the Inspectorate of Government (IG) have been tasked with conducting thorough investigations within two weeks. Nakamatte is to report to the Ministry of Local Government headquarters for further guidance during this period, with a final decision on her position pending the investigation’s outcome.

Source: https://observer.ug/news/minister-balaam-orders-jinja-cao-to-step-aside-over-corruption-claims