Masindi councillors reject Kyetume, Kasemire appointment to District Service Commission

Masindi: Masindi District councillors have rejected a motion seeking approval of David Kyetume Kasanga and Shamim Kasemire as members of the Masindi District Service Commission.

The motion was tabled during the district council sitting on Tuesday March 17, 2026 by the District Vice Chairperson and Leader of Government Business, Kasim Kabagonza.

Kabagonza explained that the District Executive Committee had proposed the appointment of Kyetume to replace the commission chairperson Benjamin Byarugaba, whose four-year term expired on January 30, 2026.

He added that Kasemire had been nominated to replace Swaib Kyamanywa as the representative of urban councils after the expiry of their terms of office.

However, the proposal was met with resistance from several councillors.

Councillor Goodman Farouk objected to the motion on religious grounds, arguing that the leadership of the commission should reflect religious balance. He also demanded an explanation as to why the terms of the outgoing commissioners had not been renewed.

Councillor Matthias Tended also opposed the appointments, saying the nominees are politicians who recently lost elections, which he feared could compromise their impartiality while executing their duties.

Meanwhile, Councillor Denis Tumwine proposed that the council should instead renew the terms of Benjamin Byarugaba and Swaib Kyamanywa, noting that the law allows the renewal of their terms.

Councillor Simon Byaruhanga called for more time for councillors to scrutinize the nominees before making a decision, saying this would help avoid challenges similar to those previously experienced with the commission.

Following the debate, Speaker Moses Kiirya, who presided over the meeting through his deputy Godfrey Wobugabe, put the matter to a vote. Councillors were asked to choose between approving the new nominees or renewing the terms of the outgoing commissioners.

The majority voted in favour of renewing the terms of office of the two commissioners.

Speaking after the council sitting, District Chairperson Cosmas Byaruhanga described the councillors’ resolution as “impactless,” noting that the law mandates the district chairperson to present names to the council for approval.

Byaruhanga said the district leadership would seek guidance from the Ministry of Local Government on how to proceed with the matter.

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