local government 6 August 2026 Nile Post
Jinja Councillors Threaten Shutdown Over Two Months of Unpaid Allowances
Jinja City councillors are on the verge of suspending all council operations and other city activities due to a two-month backlog of unpaid allowances and salaries. They accuse city authorities of neglecting their welfare and are demanding immediate intervention from the central government. Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/361702/jinja-city-councillors-threaten-to-suspend-operations-over-unpaid-allowancse
Frustration is mounting within Jinja City Council as elected officials and civil servants have reportedly gone without their allowances and salaries for two consecutive months. The situation came to a head during a heated council sitting on Thursday, August 6, 2026, where the dire financial strain on public servants was a primary topic.
Workers’ Councillor Joshua Bogoole voiced strong criticism, directing his concerns towards the City Clerk, Godfrey Kiseka. Bogoole alleged a lack of effective follow-up with the Ministry of Finance regarding the delayed payments. He highlighted that other districts have apparently received their quarterly funds, while Jinja City employees and leaders remain unpaid since their swearing-in.
“We cannot continue operating under these conditions. Leaders and workers are financially strained, yet there seems to be little urgency in resolving this matter,” Bogoole stated, warning that operations could grind to a halt.
Adding to the pressure, Ivan Basoga Kamezze, Councillor for Jinja Northern Division, issued a stern ultimatum. He declared that councillors would suspend all council business and city operations if the outstanding payments are not settled by the end of August. This action, he indicated, would persist until the government intervenes to release the necessary funds.
Speaker Juma Sozzi acknowledged the gravity of the situation and pledged to escalate the issue to the relevant ministries, including Local Government and Finance. He also instructed Isabella Akiiki, the Principal Deputy City Clerk, to present a detailed report on the payment delays at the next sitting.
Akiiki, however, attributed the delays to technical challenges within central government systems, specifically citing issues at the Ministry of Public Service and the Ministry of Finance. She assured the council that efforts were underway in Kampala to resolve the matter, expressing optimism for a resolution by the end of the week.
This standoff underscores persistent challenges in public sector payroll management and raises concerns about service delivery in Jinja. The threat of suspended operations places significant pressure on central government bodies to address the payment bottlenecks promptly.
Source: Nile Post