Kampala — URBAN speakers have been called upon to exercise a high level of maturity in handling councillors' grievances.

The advice was given by the speaker of Gulu district, Martin Mapenduzi Ojara, while opening a general assembly of urban speakers at Jojo's Restaurant in Gulu on Friday.

"You should be proud of yourselves for being one of the luckiest persons to be elected speakers. So let us deal with some of these issues that can bring conflict in the councils early enough in a more mature way.

"There is even no need to fight the civil servants but instead work together to serve the interests of the people," Ojara explained.

He said in some districts deputy speakers, because they are not paid, side with councillors to cause conflict during council meetings.

Ojara said they have been holding quarterly meetings to deal with conflicts.

"Every councillor has been given a motorcycle to motivate them to reach their electorates and consult them on problems and issues they want to be addressed," he said of Gulu district.

The assistant town clerk of Gulu municipal council, John Paul Onyee, said speakers play a key role in local government and in the governance of the country.

Onyee added that speakers are in charge of determining which issues should be discussed in the councils, saying it is disappointing to see them conflicting with councillors.

"Let all of us know our different roles and responsibilities. As politicians, put the interests of the people at heart. Let us not let politics divide us," Onyee said.