Councillors in Lamwo district have signed a petition to censure the Speaker James Ochola whom they accuse of poor working relations with the District Chairperson and other members of the district executive committee since they assumed office over a year ago.
In the petition signed by 20 councillors, Ochola is also accused of disregarding the approval of a supplementary budget, upgrading Padibe Health Center IV to a district hospital, and halting discussions on the allowances for councillors.
According to Matthew Akera Okoya the vice-chairperson of Lamwo district, the speaker has failed to work within the law governing his work such as failing to control rift among councillors and inability to make wise judgments on matters brought for debate.
Adding that the ineffectiveness of the speaker has led to the suspension of many businesses, leading to poor performance of the district.
The final decision to remove the speaker was made last week when he together with his deputy failed to turn up for the approval of the draft budget for the financial year 2022/2023.
Okoya says the Clerk to Council has already delivered the petition to the Minister of Local Government, who is expected to handle the matter.
However, Ochola, says that he was just hearing about the petition and did not know the reasons for his removal. He says that he should have been given a copy of the petition before he responds to the allegations.
According to the Local Government Act, a speaker or the deputy may be removed by a council resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the members of the council on any or all accounts of abuse of office, incompetence, misconduct, or misbehaviour.
