Kakumiro speaker impeached, Kitgum speaker resigns amid leadership changes

Kakumiro: In a dramatic and turbulent series of events, two town council speakers in Uganda have faced significant leadership challenges.

In Kakumiro District, Speaker Robert Tumwesige of Nyalweyo Town Council was impeached by councilors on December 16, 2024, following allegations of abuse of office and impersonation.

Meanwhile, in Kitgum District, the Speaker of Namokora Town Council, Hon. Acaye Daniel Comboni, has officially resigned from his position, citing a new employment opportunity.

Tumwesige’s impeachment

The dramatic impeachment of Speaker Robert Tumwesige took place during an end-of-year meeting at Nyalweyo Town Council Hall.

The censure motion was introduced by Grace Busobozi Namuli, the female councilor for Masaka Ward, who accused Tumwesige of making false claims during a document reading on November 30, 2024.

The incident occurred during a visit by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja to Nyalweyo, where Tumwesige allegedly stated that all Nyalweyo Town Council leaders had sold town lands in Masaka, Mbweera, and Nyalweyo.

These serious allegations, which were made publicly during the Prime Minister’s visit, triggered outrage among councilors, who demanded that Tumwesige provide evidence to support his claims. Councilors argued that his actions violated both Rule 11(6) of the Local Government Act and Rule 100 of the Council’s Rules of Procedure (2019), accusing him of misconduct and undermining the ethical standards of his office.

In his defense, Tumwesige acknowledged the allegations but clarified that he had attended the Prime Minister’s event in his capacity as a councilor and not as the Speaker.

He disputed the impeachment motion, claiming the process lacked proper documentation and was based on verbal accusations rather than concrete evidence. Despite this, Tumwesige expressed his willingness to step down if proper procedures were followed.

Following Tumwesige’s impeachment, the councilors swiftly appointed his deputy, Jim Junior Kezara, the youth chairperson of Nyalweyo Town Council, as the acting Speaker.

Acaye’s resignation

In a separate development, the Speaker of Namokora Town Council in Kitgum District, Hon. Acaye Daniel Comboni, has officially resigned from his position. Comboni, who also served as the area Councillor III for Central Ward, submitted his resignation letter after securing employment with a private company. His resignation was legally processed, and the letter was handed over to the Namokora Town Council Clerk’s office.

Comboni clarified that he was unaware of the resignation of his deputy, adding that he would continue serving as Councillor III for Central Ward, but not in the capacity of Speaker.

Hon. Harafat Arop Johnson, the Town Council Secretary for the General Purpose Committee, confirmed the resignations of both the Speaker and his deputy, attributing their departures to ongoing internal conflicts within the Town Council leadership, particularly involving the Urban Chairperson, Town Clerk, and the Speaker’s office.

Additionally, Hon. Johnson revealed that Comboni had been appointed to a position at the Namokora Cultural Institution, which required his resignation from the Speaker’s role. The resignation letter was officially submitted in May 2024, but Namokora Town has faced a lack of council activity for the past six months, as both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker had stepped down without replacements.

The leadership challenges in both Nyalweyo and Namokora Town Councils highlight ongoing governance issues within local councils in Uganda.

In Kakumiro, the impeachment of the Speaker is likely to influence the governance of Nyalweyo Town Council, with the appointment of a new acting Speaker expected to address the council’s leadership gap.

Similarly, in Namokora, the prolonged absence of both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker has led to a stagnation in council activities, affecting the town’s ability to conduct business and address community needs.

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