Kampala — MBARARA municipal council has defied the Inspector General of Government (IGG)'s directive to take disciplinary action against the mayor, Wilson Tumwine over breach of the Leadership Code.

The councilors said they could not implement the directive because they were not the complainants in the matter.

The IGG received a complaint that Tumwine entered a contract to rent his premises to Kakoba division, an area in the municipality he heads.

The IGG's investigations revealed that on July 8, 2005, Kakoba division entered a tenancy agreement with Tumwine to rent his premises on Plot No. 2123 on Buchunku Road at sh600,000 per month. The division rented Tumwine's premises for one year before they shifted to their premises, the report indicated.

Tumwine blamed his actions on ignorance of the law and lack of guidance from his advisers.

The IGG's report to the council's speaker, Eunice Mugabi, pins Tumwine on breaching section 12 of the Leadership Code Act, 2002, whose penalty, in sub section 2, states that a leader found guilty should 'vacate office or be dismissed from the office'.

However, Mwondha also stated that it was not mandatory to take such action.

When Mugabi presented the matter to the council, the members discarded the directive.

Town Clerk David Kigenyi's advice to the council to heed to the IGG's directive fell on deaf ears.

Mugabi is still awaiting the IGG's response to the October 20 letter she wrote seeking guidance on how to implement the directive, which she argued was illegal. RDC Clement Kandole advised them to wait for the response.