By KT Reporter
Kabale District LC5 Chairman, Nelson Nshangabasheija, has come under fire from civil servants and political leaders who are accusing him of allegedly mobilizing and leading hooligans to lock Ronald Mutegeki, the Kabale District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), out of his office.
Nshangabasheija’s accusers allege that on Thursday morning at around 7:30 am, he reportedly mobilized a group of people and handed them placards demanding the immediate removal of Mutegeki from Kabale over allegations of corruption. At about 7:45 am, the group stormed the district headquarters and padlocked the CAO’s office.
Nshangabasheijd has accused Mutegeki of absenteeism, intimidating civil servants, political interference, and corruption. He further claimed that Mutegeki has been holding District Executive Committee meetings without involving the LC5 Chairperson’s office, blocking approval of a new District Contracts Committee, attempting to illegally lease district land in Kigongi along the Kabale–Mbarara highway that once hosted a remand home, and occupying a district house without authorization. Nshangabasheija insists that Mutegeki must leave Kabale immediately.
After locking the office, the group left the premises, creating tension among district civil servants. However, many leaders have condemned Nshangabasheija’s actions, calling them immature and unprofessional.
Kabale District Deputy Speaker Ronald Ian Mugisha says he does not support Nshangabasheija’s decision to mobilize people to close the CAO’s office, arguing that the district council has not received any complaint implicating Mutegeki in absenteeism or any other misconduct during his four years of service in Kabale.
Mugisha added that humiliating a civil servant has tainted the image of Kabale District Local Government.
Deputy CAO Robert Mugabe wondered why Nshangabasheija accuses Mutegeki of absenteeism when he was officially away in Kampala for work-related duties. Mugabe said the move to lock the CAO’s office shocked him, especially since the office has never received any formal complaint against Mutegeki, either from technical staff or political leaders. He adds that he is now working in fear, suspecting that a similar incident could be directed at him. Mugabe said he has already informed district security officials, as he is currently in charge of civil service operations in Mutegeki’s absence.
Kabale District Speaker Flavia Nyinakiiza Kanagyizi has also condemned Nshangabasheija’s actions, stating that the council has never received any complaint against the CAO. She advises Mutegeki to seek legal redress, arguing that it is unacceptable for him to be forced to work outside his office simply because it has been padlocked.
Kanagyizi warns that such actions could take the district back to the crisis of 1999, when former CAO Gladys Aserua was forced to resign after a dispute with the district council but later won a wrongful dismissal lawsuit.
Retired Major Godfrey Katamba, the Kabale Resident District Commissioner, says the district security committee has begun investigations into the incident. He condemned the method used by Nshangabasheija to express his concerns about the CAO.
When contacted by phone, Mutegeki says he deals only with leaders, not hooligans. He challenged Nshangabasheija to produce any written communication supporting the allegations used to justify locking his office.
Mutegeki claims that the real issue is that Nshangabasheija “wants money every time” from district funds sent by the central government, and insisted he is not responsible for financing the chairman’s political activities.
By press time, the CAO’s office remained locked.
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