MP Balyeku addressing leaders. Top [1st Left] is RDC Sakwa counting his foes' cash to confirm its shs20m.
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Last Updated on: 26th May 2020, 07:15 pm
- MP Balyeku Grace handed over shs20m to Jinja CAO with T&Cs
Jinja—26, May 2020: There was drama at Busoga Square the headquarters of the Jinja district local government where Jinja Municipality West MP, Moses Grace Balyeku and embattled RDC, Eric Joseph Sakwa took their wars to ‘another higher level’.
MP Balyeku had rushed to beat the May 26 deadline issued by the President for the return of shs20m given to MPs by the Parliamentary Commission. The Court had also ordered Legislators to hand over the money to respective district COVID-19 task-forces.
After exchanging pleasantries with CAO, William Kanyesigye, the boisterous Balyeku with his handlers went straight to the Council Chambers purposely to hand over the cash to the Deputy DISO, John Erimiah Mugonda who was standing for his boss Lt Fred Musoke [acting RDC] reportedly away in Kampala.
Trouble erupted when Sakwa who was also thought to be away, suddenly surfaced forcing Balyeku to, swiftly rise up out from his seat and rushed out in disgust and shock.
Kanyesigye together with the Town Clerk, Ambrose Ochen struggled to hide their feelings at the visibly comical-mini-drama while pondering the next course of action.
Mr Balyeku who seemed to have regained confidence after making quick calls to Kampala, returned to the Chambers with a calculated move on how to manoeuvre in already a troublesome situation.
Flavour was also added to the drama when Balyeku who is an avowed nemesis to Sakwa elected to handover to Ochen, saying his accounting officer is the Town Clerk not the RDC.
“I want the greater percentage of this money to go to serve my people of Jinja West because all MPs also gave their money to assist their respective constituents,” Balyeku told CAO—whom he never handed over ‘his money’ to.
Embattled Sakwa who was seated next to the CAO could not stomach the scenario and hit back saying the money must be handed over to him as the chairman of district task-force on coronavirus.
“….bring the money here and we count to prove that the notes are not counterfeit or the real amount, we must do things openly,” miserable Sakwa insisted, forcing the CAO to task his cashier to count the money there and then.
The motor mouthed Sakwa in a brief speech made a satirical appreciation of Balyeku for rushing on the last day to save his skin from ugly legal consequences.
“This is nothing to brag about that you have handed over shs20m because you are doing it out of pressure after Court’s pronouncement, otherwise you would cry in vernacular,” Sakwa hit at Balyeku whom he blames for all the stress he now carries.
With apparent reference to the controversies surrounding the office of the RDC, Balyeku who says he does not lose any battle, maintains that Jinja will soon get a new RDC and deputy to replace the unreasonable Sakwa.
“As far as I am concerned, even the so-called Sakwa you are talking of is not the RDC, we have an acting RDC (DISO Musoke) who is away in Kampala but has sent his deputy,” he told reporters.
Analysts fear the saga is likely to disrupt service delivery considering the strategic position of the RDC at this critical period when the entire world is focusing on the fast spreading COVID-19 pandemic.
Jinja is increasingly becoming a tough place of work, especially for officials like the RDC, CAO and Town Clerk who are appointed from the centre. They are all now boiled in local politics and dirty deals.
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