Mbale City division gets new speaker

In a significant development for the governance structure of Mbale Northern City Division Council, a new Speaker has been elected following the departure of Hussein Gadimba, who assumed the role of Assistant Resident City Commissioner.

The election, presided over by the Mbale City Electoral Commission returning officer, saw three contenders vying for the position.

Robert Kisesi, councillor representing the north-central ward, emerged victorious in the three-man race, defeating Thomas Waguma from Kasanja Nambulu ward and Kamad Wandera representing Dokho ward.

Kisesi's election comes at a crucial time, as the council grapples with challenges ranging from botched service delivery to corruption among technical officers. They polled 35 votes, 18, one, respectively.

The election was preceded by the immediate handover of instruments of power, including the speaker's mace, and stamp among others, affirming the transfer of power.

Outgoing Speaker Hussein Gadimba highlighted the obstacles faced by the council during his tenure, including low revenue realization and widespread corruption.

He also pointed out the significant backlog of councilor emoluments amounting to 300 million, stretching back several years.

Despite these challenges, Gadimba expressed optimism about his new role and vowed to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to combat corruption and improve governance.

Gadimba's departure from the speakership was not without its share of frustrations, as he cited the government's failure to meet the expectations of the electorate as a primary reason for his near resignation.

He attributed the council's poor revenue performance to leakages caused by corrupt practices among division agents.

However, Gadimba did acknowledge some successes during his tenure, including the maintenance of certain roads and the installation of security lights in key trading centers.

Incoming Speaker Kisesi pledged to address the existing challenges and build on his predecessor's efforts to advocate for councilor welfare, ensure accountability, and enhance service delivery.

The election of Kisesi marks a significant transition for the Mbale Northern City Division Council, with hopes for renewed leadership and a concerted effort to address longstanding issues facing the division.

As Kisesi takes on his new role, all eyes will be on him and the council to deliver on their promises and steer the division toward a brighter future.