Hoima leaders close city offices over unremitted tax

Hoima: Political tensions escalated in Hoima on Tuesday after angry leaders from the Hoima West Division temporarily shut down Hoima City offices, protesting the city’s failure to remit property tax revenues collected over the past two years.

Led by Councillor Robert Ruhiigwa Kyomuhendo, the division leaders accused City Clerk Godfrey Kisseka of deliberately dodging a scheduled meeting intended to address the issue of unremitted funds.

According to Ruhiigwa, the city owes the division UGX 99 million from the last financial year and an additional UGX 135 million for the current financial year.

The leaders, including Division Speaker Edward Busiinge Ayesiiga, expressed frustration over the lack of transparency and accountability, blaming the non-remittance for deteriorating service delivery in the area.

In a dramatic turn of events, the councillors forcibly removed all city staff from their offices and locked the main gate of the Hoima City headquarters, effectively paralyzing operations.

Hoima Resident City Commissioner Badru Mugabi later held a closed-door meeting with the protesting leaders. He confirmed that both city and division officials will reconvene in a formal meeting scheduled for next Tuesday to resolve the standoff.

Meanwhile, Hoima City Lord Mayor Brian Kaboyo criticized City Clerk Kisseka for failing to meet the division leaders and discuss the matter peacefully. “The city clerk’s failure to engage constructively has worsened the situation,” Kaboyo noted.

Efforts to get a comment from City Clerk Godfrey Kisseka were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to repeated phone calls.

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