Masindi Resident District Commissioner, (RDC) Godfrey Nyakahuma has once again survived a recommendation to be transferred following allegations of maladministration.
Nyakahuma, Thursday appeared before a plenary district council session to defend himself against accusations of abetting graft, abuse of office, dividing the district council and poor working relationship with the district chairperson.
He is also accused of purportedly oppressing the poor in favour of the rich, discouraging development and neglect of duty.
The petitioners also accuse Nyakahuma of marginalising the local community, planning the impeachment of the district chairperson, Cosmas Byaruhanga and also overseeing the forceful eviction of hundreds of people from Kimengo sub-county.
His appearance before council at the district headquarters stemmed from a petition filed by more than 200 residents from nine sub-counties requesting the district speaker, Moses Kirya to prevail over Nyakahuma for his alleged administrative failure to handle his office in the district.
Two weeks ago, the residents asked Kirya to include the matter on council’s Order Paper seeking Nyakahuma’s transfer.
This prompted Kirya to write to Nyakahuma over the matter and the RDC agreed to appear before council to defend himself.
The motion to transfer Nyakahuma was placed on the 10th position on the Order Paper. The motion was moved by Kassim Kabagonza, the district vice chairperson cum leader of government business and seconded by Hafusa Karungi, secretary for community services, Salama Kugonza, secretary for finance and Titus Ariyo, the secretary for production.
After reading the motion, Ariyo, who is also the Budongo sub-county councillor asked the speaker to dissolve council into a committee of the entire house for the petitioners to be allowed to contribute and deliberate; which the speaker did.
In his defence, the RDC rubbished the accusations as devoid of merit. He said the NRM government pays him to serve people without discrimination. He also denied that he shields the rich against the poor, dismissing allegations that he protects corrupt officials.
He reminded council of the award he scooped from Recreation for Development and Peace (RDP) for fighting corruption.
On his transfer, Nyakahuma said he does not have any upper hand in his overstay in Masindi adding that the discretion to appoint, disappoint and transfer lies entirely within the powers of President Yoweri Museveni.
His submission to the councillors and people in the gallery was to trigger off a debate and resolution whether Nyakahuma should stay in Masindi or be transferred.
But Kirya said he would forward the petition to the appointing authority for decision making.
This left the members hanging in balance with the LC 5 chairperson, Cosmas Byaruhanga saying the speaker’s decision was wanting.
He said once the community complains, immediate action must be taken to avoid the situation blowing out of proportion.
The chairperson emphasised that: “The problem is not what but how the RDC is doing his work.”
This is the second time council has failed to recommend Nyakahuma’s transfer.
In 2018, the same council did not endorse his transfer since majority councillors buttressed his stay in the district.
