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The Accused Chief Finance Officer, David Barekye while attending the city council being grilled over misconduct
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By Joshua Nahamya
Mbarara City
Twenty-four senior staff of Mbarara City Council, including heads of departments, have petitioned the council demanding the dismissal of Chief Finance Officer (CFO) David Mbarekye over alleged gross misconduct that they say has crippled service delivery and created a toxic working environment.
In their petition, the staff accuse Mbarekye of disrespecting colleagues, openly belittling their qualifications, threatening violence, delaying payments without justification, demanding bribes, sabotaging revenue collection, interfering in procurement processes, and issuing unauthorized communication. They say his conduct has undermined teamwork, staff morale, and the integrity of the institution.
Councillors attending the council meeting on Tuesday
Several engagements—including retreats in Kabale, Masaka, and Kampala—were reportedly held to resolve the matter, but staff say Mbarekye repeatedly relapsed into the same behaviour. The petition has been copied to the Ministries of Local Government and Public Service, the Public Service Commission, the Resident City Commissioner, and other key authorities.
During Tuesday’s council meeting, Speaker Bonny Tashobya read the petition before councillors, with Mbarekye in attendance. Councillors Eunice Asiimwe and Godfrey Baryomunsi backed the allegations, citing incidents where staff walked out of meetings, revenue reports conflicted, and senior officers broke down in frustration. They called for Mbarekye’s immediate interdiction to pave way for investigations.
Speaker Bonny Tashobya Karutsya and the clerk to council
Councillor Byansi Muhammad, however, cautioned against rushing to expel the CFO without giving him an opportunity to defend himself, urging due process by the Town Clerk and the City Service Commission.
Deputy Town Clerk Simon Ejau confirmed receiving official complaints against the CFO.
Speaker Tashobya ruled that investigations begin immediately, noting that council lacks the direct mandate to dismiss a staff member but can recommend interdiction as has been done in previous cases. He emphasized the need for an independent inquiry and a formal report before further action is taken.
Mbarekye dismissed the accusations as malicious and intended to tarnish his reputation, insisting that the rules of natural justice were violated since he was not given a chance to defend himself during the meeting. Investigations are expected to commence immediately as the council seeks to restore sanity and effective service delivery.
Torch Media Africa
