Tensions erupt in Hoima City Council over engineer’s suspension
She also pointed out that open holes meant for installing streetlight poles have been left unattended, creating safety hazards around the city.
Hoima: A stormy session of the Hoima City Council ended in disarray after several council members staged a dramatic walkout in protest of what they called the unfair and unjust suspension of City Engineer Julius Ssentamu.
The heated meeting, held at HB Hotel on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, saw high-ranking council officials including Monday Margaret, the Secretary for Works and Iddi Magezi, the Secretary for Production lead the protest, expressing outrage over the three-month suspension handed down by the Town Clerk, Godfrey Kiseka.
Mayor Brian Kaboyo and Council Speaker Edward Isingoma called upon Kiseka to explain the reasons behind Ssentamu’s suspension.
According to the Town Clerk, the decision was administrative in nature and not related to the engineer’s performance within the Works Department. Kiseka clarified that the action was a suspension, not a dismissal.
However, many council members were not convinced.
Patrick Mugabi, the Workers’ Councilor, criticized the decision, stating that the suspension violated the principle of natural justice. “The engineering department is already understaffed,” he argued, “and further suspending workers without due process only worsens the situation. There must be fairness and harmonization in such actions.”
Monday Margaret went further, alleging that the suspension was a cover-up for financial mismanagement. “I’ve raised issues for months why have no roads been worked on? All we hear is that there’s no fuel,” she said. “Now, funds meant for streetlights are being diverted. The suspension is a tactic to sideline accountability.”
She also pointed out that open holes meant for installing streetlight poles have been left unattended, creating safety hazards around the city.
Iddi Magezi supported these claims, asserting that the move was part of a larger plan to swindle city funds. “The engineer posed a threat to their plans, so they removed him,” Magezi alleged. “Even the Public Accounts Committee gave the city a poor rating, and the technical team was dismissed from the meeting due to their unsatisfactory performance.”
Hoima Resident City Commissioner (RCC), Badru Mugabi, attempted to defuse tensions by stating that the Town Clerk acted within his legal mandate. However, he warned that if the suspension leads to financial losses for the city, Kiseka would be held personally responsible.
The session ended without a clear resolution, leaving concerns over transparency, accountability, and service delivery hanging in the balance.
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