In a desperate cry for help, Jinja City Council authorities have appealed to the central government in Kampala to bail them out of a crippling financial crisis.
The Council headed by NUP sponsored Mayor His Worship Alton Peter Kasolo Okocha as the political chief executive is drowning in debt, owing close to 3 billion Uganda shillings to former workers who successfully sued for unpaid gratuity packages.
The Town Clerk Edward Lwanga has written a heartfelt letter to Ramadan Ggobi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and Secretary to the Treasury, pleading for a supplementary budget to offset the liabilities.
“…this is to submit my request to the above captioned subject matter. Jinja City Council took over the assets and liabilities of the former Jinja Municipal Council on the 11th November,2020, when Statutory Notice creating cities was signed by the Minister of Local Government…”reads Lwanga preamble.
In the letter referenced CR 101 dated 26th August,2024 and stamped as received the following day, Lwanga says Town Hall requires 2,884,314,387(two billions, eight hundred eighty four millions three hundred fourteen thousand three hundred eighty seven shillings to pay off pensions and court awards after former workers dragged Council to the court.
Although the office of the Attorney General (AG) the government chief legal advisor, was represented to defend the council, Edward Lwanga laments that the court has gone ahead to issue a warrant of attachment to their property.
As you read this article, Mayor Kasolo has been either using his private car or encroaching on vehicles from other departments because his official car is gathering dust in the hands of a court bailiff.
“…we are therefore seeking for your immediate help through a Supplementary Budget to enable us to settle the Council Liabilities as per the attached list for your reference…”, the Town Clerk pleads in his letter.
Jinja City Council is synonymous with crisis considering the numerous court cases slapped against it by either former workers, or suppliers and contractors, sparking speculation of collusion.
The proverbial “church mouse” refers to a person who is extremely poor or has very little worldly possessions. The idea behind this phrase is that a mouse living in a church would have to rely on scraps and leftovers to survive, as it wouldn’t have a steady food source.
In everyday language, calling someone a “church mouse” implies they are: very poor, frugal, living modestly, or having limited resources.
The phrase is often used in a humorous or lighthearted way to describe someone’s financial situation.
In the context of Jinja City Council, the phrase “church mouse” is being used metaphorically to describe the council’s financial situation. It implies that the council is struggling financially.
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