LOCAL
Amolatar,Uganda | Amolatar District Local Government was thrown into turmoil on Friday after councillors dramatically abandoned a crucial council sitting convened to discuss and approve the district budget, plunging the district’s financial planning process into uncertainty.
The tense meeting, which was expected to pave the way for approval of the district’s upcoming financial year budget and other key administrative matters, began at approximately 11:30 AM but quickly collapsed amid protests from angry councillors demanding payment of long-outstanding allowances and facilitation arrears.
Witnesses described scenes of confusion and confrontation inside the council chambers as councillors openly accused district authorities of neglecting their welfare concerns despite repeated promises to settle the arrears.
Within less than ten minutes after the session commenced, several councillors walked out in protest, effectively paralysing proceedings and leaving senior district officials in a difficult position.
The boycott triggered a prolonged standoff that lasted for more than three hours, during which district leaders made several attempts to convince the councillors to return and continue with the business of the day. However, the efforts reportedly failed after discussions degenerated into heated arguments between councillors and members of the district executive.
At the centre of the confrontation were the newly posted Chief Administrative Officer, Rhoda Oroma, and Amolatar District Chairperson Geoffrey Ocen Kiring, who faced sharp criticism from council members over what they described as poor financial coordination and failure to prioritise councillors’ payments.
Some councillors argued that they could no longer continue attending council sessions or passing critical resolutions while their own financial entitlements remained unpaid for months. Others accused the district administration of failing to communicate clearly on when the outstanding balances would be cleared.
“We cannot continue transacting district business when leaders themselves are being ignored. Our concerns have been raised repeatedly, but nothing has been done,” one councillor reportedly said during the heated exchanges.
The standoff eventually forced District Speaker Martin Ayonge to adjourn the council indefinitely after it became evident that no agreement could be reached between the aggrieved councillors and the district leadership.
The suspension of the sitting now leaves the district’s budget approval process hanging in the balance at a critical moment when local governments across the country are finalising financial plans for the next fiscal year.
Failure to approve the budget within the required timelines could potentially affect implementation of government programmes, service delivery, and funding allocations for various sectors within the district.
Political observers and residents have since expressed concern over the growing tensions within the district leadership, warning that prolonged disagreements could negatively impact development activities and governance in Amolatar.
By press time, district authorities had not released an official communication indicating when councillors would receive their arrears or when the council would reconvene to resume deliberations.
The unfolding standoff has now intensified pressure on district leaders to urgently resolve the impasse and restore stability within the local government administration before the situation escalates further.