The council session, initially convened to pass the 2025/26 district budget, was abruptly cut short when tensions spiralled out of control.
Tororo District Council was thrown into disarray on Wednesday after a fierce debate erupted over allegations that Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Albert Amula is involved in aiding the production and distribution of counterfeit cement in the district.
The council session, initially convened to pass the 2025/26 district budget, was abruptly cut short when tensions spiralled out of control.
Speaker Betty Charia struggled to maintain order as accusations flew across the chamber.
The controversy erupted when District Councillor Patrick Omare raised a motion under "matters of national importance," demanding the immediate transfer of Deputy RDC Amula.
He accused Amula and other district leaders of failing to combat corruption and instead enabling the illegal cement trade.
"There is currently counterfeit cement in Tororo, the sixth highest tax-paying company in Uganda. The Deputy RDC has been mentioned.
Madam Speaker, under Section 73 of the Local Government Act, there are provisions for the removal of an RDC," Omare stated.
His remarks were met with strong support from several councillors, who cited multiple corruption cases allegedly linked to Amula.
"Many houses are collapsing, tarnishing the image of Tororo Cement. Moreover, we have delayed compensation for those affected by the transmission line and stalled construction projects like Morikatipe View Primary School.
In all these, the Deputy RDC is implicated," said Councillor James Onyango.
However, members allied with the district executive opposed Omare's motion, arguing that there was no substantial evidence against Amula.
"If you have gathered a group of councillors to tarnish people's names, we won't accept it. Where is the evidence implicating the RDC?" said Molly Cheria, Secretary for Works and Technical Services.
The debate quickly turned chaotic, with councillors shouting over one another. Speaker Charia was eventually forced to adjourn the session prematurely as tensions flared.
Constance Okolet, a councillor representing Kayoro Sub-County, also weighed in, accusing Amula of a series of scandals and calling for his immediate transfer.
"Amula, Amula--who is he? Can't he be changed? How many Deputy RDCs have served here before him?" Okolet questioned.
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Oketch Obbo, also known as Jascience, a councillor for Nagongera, warned that Amula's presence could harm the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) ahead of the upcoming elections.
"We are heading towards elections. These are the kind of people who will give the opposition an advantage," he cautioned.
Addressing the media after the session, Deputy RDC Amula dismissed the accusations, claiming that his critics were the real culprits behind corruption in the district.
"This is a witch hunt because some of them are involved in these deals. We have maintained our stance against corruption, but their relatives are part of this mess," Amula stated.
The turmoil in the district council follows the recent discovery of hundreds of bags of counterfeit cement in Tororo.
The scandal has raised serious concerns about the integrity of district leadership and the safety of ongoing construction projects.
As investigations into the matter continue, residents and stakeholders are demanding accountability to protect the district's reputation and ensure the safety of infrastructure developments.
