Persistent infighting among technical staff at Mbarara City Council has prompted political leaders to seek the intervention of Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara, warning that the disputes are undermining service delivery and slowing the city’s development.
The appeal was made during a public baraza held at the Mbarara City Council Hall, where leaders asked the minister to help reconcile feuding officials and restore harmony within the city’s administration.
Mbarara City Mayor Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi said persistent conflicts among senior technical officers had created a hostile working environment that was affecting the implementation of government programmes and delivery of services.
Kakyebezi alleged that City Town Clerk Justin Barekye had been at loggerheads with several members of staff, while the Chief Finance Officer, David Mbarekye, was also embroiled in disputes with other officials. He said the political leadership had made several attempts to reconcile the parties, including engaging different government offices, but the disagreements had persisted.
Mbarara City Woman Member of Parliament Charity Kibaju Kamuhanda said the city could not achieve meaningful development without unity among its leaders and technical staff. She urged all parties to set aside their differences and work together in the interest of residents.
The concerns come amid an ongoing investigation into a petition submitted by 24 technical staff against Chief Finance Officer David Mbarekye. The petition, which was addressed to the City Mayor and the Town Clerk and later tabled before the council by Deputy Mayor Priscah Murongo, accuses Mbarekye of misconduct, indiscipline and unprofessional conduct.
The staff further accuse him of disrespecting colleagues, threatening violence, engaging in physical confrontations, delaying payment processing, frustrating revenue collection, abusing accounting officers and making unauthorized communications.
The allegations are currently being investigated by a committee appointed by Deputy City Town Clerk Simon Ejau, although its findings have not yet been released.Speaking to journalists after the council meeting, Mbarekye dismissed the allegations, claiming that some of his colleagues had been bribed to implicate him.
Responding to the concerns, Minister Balaam Barugahara said he would further investigate the matter but urged both the political and technical leadership to embrace dialogue and reconciliation.
Mbarara City Speaker Bonny Tashobya said the council was awaiting the committee’s report before determining the appropriate measures to resolve the dispute and restore harmony within the city administration. URN