Summary:

• Tony Ssempijja, former Masaka City Council Speaker, was ousted from office for refusing to hand over to his successor, Achilles Mawanda.

Tony Ssempijja, the former Masaka City Council Speaker has been forced out of office after his refusal to hand over to his successor.

Ssempija, the Masaka City Councilor for the Kimanya-Kabonera division was on November 29th last year censored at a special council sitting presided over by Minister of Local Government Raphael Magyezi and witnessed by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Ben Kumumanya.

Ssempija had since declined to hand over the instrument of power including the office space to his successor Achilles Mawanda, who took oath as the new city Speaker.

However, last evening, a team of city officials led by William Muwanguzi the Senior Law Enforcement Officer forcefully opened the office, which is located on the ground floor at the Mayor’s Chamber along Edward Avenue, and accordingly handed it over to Mawanda to perform duties of Speaker.

Muwanguzi noted that they acted on instructions of Vincent Okrut, the City Clerk following his futile efforts to persuade Ssempijja to peacefully handover office.

Hon. Vincent Ssentongo, a Secretary for the City Social Service Committee, who was among those who witnessed the breaking of the Speaker’s Office, noted that Ssempija carried some of the equipment including among others a computer, office keys, furniture and the official attires of the Speaker.

Achilles Mawanda, the new Masaka City Council Speaker noted he is going to reach out to his predecessor in a bid to make peace with him.