I HAVE NOT BRIBED COUNCILORS WITH 2M TO CENSURE CHAIRMAN KARYAIJA— MINISTER KAHINDA OTAFIIRE

BY WILBER MUHWEZI

IN BUSHENY/MITOOMA

The minister of justice and constitutional affairs Maj. Gen. Kahinda Ofafiire has Wednesday morning Dec. 07, 2016 revealed on phone that he has not bribed Mitooma district councilors with 2million Uganda shillings each to censure the district chairman Benon Karyaija.

Credible sources told www.mknewslink.com editor that each councilor so far has pocketed 2 million Uganda shillings to have the deal executed.

“Journalist please tell those people who are saying so that they are stupid and should let me do my both private and government work” He said

“Did you sight me anywhere in the Rukukuru saga where chairman Karyaija was removed from office, vehicle parked at police because he had refused to have court built near the district headquarters?” Kahinda asked.

Karyaija is an arch enemy of Gen. Otafiire since 2010 when Otafiire did not wanted Mitooma district to be curved out of Bushenyi district. What worsened the conflict was Karyaija to campaign for MP Donozio Kahonda who defeated Kahinda in Ruhinda constituency 2016 parliamentary elections.

On oct. 4, 2016, 18 councilors out of 26 raised the required signatures to censure the district chairman. A petition was sent to the minister of local government Col. Tom Butiime.

Immediately, a tribunal composed of five members was put in place headed by Justice Matovu.

On Dec. 02, 2016, Justice Matovu together with tribunal members sat at Mitooma but Karyaija did not have a lawyer but councilors were represented by Owen Murangira and company advocates.

Justice Matovu after finding out that Karyaija did not have a lawyer, he postponed the hearing of Dec. 12, 2016 at Lake view Hotel in Mbarara. The judge warned Karyaija that if he doesnot provide a lawyer on the above date then he will decide the case there and then.

The allegations raised by councilors include corruption, abuse of office among others.

Maj. Gen. Otafiire also denied having influenced the chief justice Bart Katureebe to appoint a judge who is able to make a decision in favour of minister Kahinda because both chief justice and justice Matovu are under Gen. Kahinda’s ministry.

WHAT NEXT FOR CHAIRMAN BENON KARYAIJA

In case the tribunal rules that Chairman Karyaija committed the offences then he ceases to be the district chairman of Mitooma and a new chairman is elected but Karyaija is also eligible to contest again but can even go to court to challenge the decision of tribunal.

If the allegations are dismissed then Karyaija continues to be the Mitooma district chairman.