Irene Nakamatte receiving a goat from LC 1 Chairpersons in appreciation for service rendered to their areas. Nakamatte transfer was reversed on Thursday.
The transfer of Luwero town clerk has been halted hours to party organized to bid farewell and ahead of hand over of office to her replacement.
Two weeks ago, the Luwero District Chief Administrative Officer Elizabeth Namanda transferred town clerks in Wobulenzi, Bombo, Zirobwe, Ndejje, Busika and Luwero town councils in a move aimed at diffusing tensions between local leaders and technical staff.
In the transfers, Irene Nakamatte was transferred from Luwero town council to Bombo town after she fell out with LC 3 Chairperson John Buwembo over allegations of execution of shoddy works and nonpayment of allowances. Nakamatte was replaced by Muluuta Mugagga from Bombo town council.
Another town clerk transferred was Lydia Nabaasa from Wobulenzi town to Busiika town council. Nabaasa also fell out with section of councilors over allegations of execution of shoddy works. She was replaced by Lydia Bukenya from Busiika town council.
The town clerks were ordered to hand over offices on Monday 1st August next week and assume work at new stations immediately.
On Thursday, LC 1 Chairpersons, a section of councilors and other opinion leaders who believe Nakamatte is an innocent victim of political intrigue organized a party at Africa Guest House to bid her farewell and thank her for services rendered to their area.
However hours before the event, CAO Namanda summoned Nakamatte to her office and handed her a letter canceling the transfer and re-appointing her as town clerk of Luwero town council until further notice.
Namanda also canceled transfers of town clerks Nabaasa, Mugagga and Bukenya until further notice.
It is reported that the cancellation of the transfers is intended to conclude ongoing special audits in Luwero and Wobulenzi town councils.
Nakamatte welcomed the letter reversing her transfer saying it will give her time to clear her name tainted by politicians on falsehoods.
Nakamatte said although theshe transfer is normal in public service and is okay with it, she wants to move to another station with her name cleared of any corruption scandal after a special audit.
A large section of councilors led by Luwero town Speaker Rebecca Namale and LC 1 Chairpersons said they had no issue with reversing the transfers saying the earlier arrangement was unfair to the accused officer.
Lawrence Kakumba the PWD Parish councillor at Luwero town said the council has never passed a vote of no confidence in the town clerk and it was irregular to transfer her on mere allegations of LC 3 Chairperson without investigations to clear or implicate her in alleged corruption tendencies.
Robert Okello the Luwero South East Parish Councillor at Luwero town said although transfers are normal, the timing of transfers was not right for Nakamatte.
Okello says that ongoing conflicts are not about fighting against corruption in Luwero but personal wars and overstepping powers.
Dan Ssemuyaba the LC 11 Chairperson of Kavule Parish and Kisekka Ssaka the LC 1 Chairperson said they are fed up with wrangles yet residents want service delivery in their communities.
Christine Nakamanya the Vice Chairperson of Luwero district said that there was a need to organize leadership trainings for councilors in the town councils to clearly
understand their roles so as to avoid power struggles that may affect service delivery.
John Buwembo the LC 3 Chairperson of Luwero town is yet to comment on the cancellation of the transfer of Nakamatte.
But before reversing it, Buwembo also organized a party on Saturday last week with a handful of councilors who reportedly celebrated Nakamatte’s transfer saying he had won the fight against corruption.
On 25th July this year, Buwembo went ahead to write to CAO Namanda asking for a copy of the report of the audit findings about the town clerk to enable him to take further action against Nakamatte because it was not beneficial to transfer a person whom he called a problematic officer from station to another.
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