Rukungiri Municipal Council Selects Sectoral Committee Chairpersons Amid Disagreements

Rukungiri: Rukungiri Municipal Council has selected members and chairpersons of its sectoral committees during the first council meeting of the 2026/2027 financial year.

The exercise was conducted on July 29, during the council sitting chaired by the Municipal Speaker, Constance Tumusiime. The Speaker read out the names of councillors assigned to each committee before directing members to elect their respective chairpersons.

Under the Finance Committee, the selected members are Miriam Natukunda, Enock Karuhura, Innocent Rubarondesa, Abraham Baryajunwa, Levi Akatukunda, Gideon Turyamubugana and Consolanta Tumuheirwe. The committee elected Enock Karuhura as its chairperson.

The Works Committee comprises Tanazio Karuhura, Lovence Kamabale, Moreen Kyarisima, Sylvia Tusiime, Judith Ariho, Vian John Keijukuru and Christopher Bamanyisa. Members elected Judith Ariho as the committee chairperson.

For the Social Services Committee, the selected members are Anitah Akatukunda, Frank Begumisa Twinowitu, Bernard Turyahabwe, Nice Mwebesa, Naume Kasigazi, Boaz Kamusime and Morning Johnson. The committee elected Bernard Turyahabwe as its chairperson.

The council also approved party chief whips. The NRM councillors nominated Abraham Baryajunwa, while the PFF councillors nominated Anitah Akatukunda. Both were approved by the council.

However, the exercise was marked by disagreements, especially in the Finance Committee. Some councillors expressed dissatisfaction with their committee assignments and the manner in which the elections were conducted.

Gideon Turyamubugana of Kanyinya Ward, Innocent Rubarondesa of Kinyasano Ward and Levi Akatukunda of Rwakabengo Ward boycotted the election of the Finance Committee chairperson. They argued that the committee is highly technical and that none of its members had the qualifications required to effectively lead such a sensitive committee.

Despite their boycott, the remaining members proceeded with the vote and elected Enock Karuhura, the councillor for Karangaro Ward, as chairperson. Enock Karuhura of the NRM was contesting for the chairperson position against Gideon Turyamubugana of the PFF.

However, it was alleged that Turyamubugana and his supporters boycotted the election process after claiming they had been overwhelmed by the numerical strength of NRM councillors.

CUE IN…..VOXPOP COUNCILLORS… RR

Speaking after his election, Enock Karuhura said he is capable of leading the committee and promised to serve diligently though others were denying it.

CUE IN……CHAIR SELECTION VOXPOP…..RR

Municipal Speaker Constance Tumusiime and Mayor Boaz Matita urged councillors to work together, saying every elected councillor is capable of serving on any committee. They noted that the law does not require a specific education level for one to qualify as a councillor, and therefore all members should respect the committee assignments and support the elected chairpersons.