Jinja City Council on Brink of Financial Collapse, Seeks Government Intervention
By The Public Lens
Jinja City Council is facing a severe financial crisis, with debts totaling close to 3 billion Uganda shillings owed to former workers.
The Council, led by Mayor Alton Peter Kasolo Okocha, is struggling to pay gratuity packages to former employees who successfully sued for unpaid benefits.
Town Clerk Edward Lwanga has written to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Ramadan Ggobi, requesting a supplementary budget to offset the liabilities.
In his letter, Lwanga explains that Jinja City Council took over the assets and liabilities of the former Jinja Municipal Council in 2020.
The Council requires 2,884,314,387 Uganda shillings to pay off pensions and court awards, with the court having issued a warrant of attachment to their property.
Mayor Kasolo has been forced to use his private car or borrow vehicles from other departments, as his official car has been seized by a court bailiff.
The Town Clerk has pleaded for immediate help through a supplementary budget to settle the Council’s liabilities.
Jinja City Council is facing numerous court cases from former workers, suppliers, and contractors, sparking speculation of collusion.
The Council’s financial situation is akin to that of a “church mouse,” struggling to survive on limited resources.
The phrase “church mouse” is used metaphorically to describe the Council’s financial struggles, implying a severe lack of resources.
