In a July 1 letter, Ms. Babalanda, who oversees the Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), ordered the immediate transfer of RDC Namugenyi to headquarters. Ms. Namugenyi has been placed on ‘katebe’—a term for nondeployment—pending a detailed report on her conduct while performing her duties.
“The President will be consulted for a final decision on the matter following the completion of the detailed report,” Babalanda stated.
RDCs are presidential appointees who represent the President’s interests at the local government level. The controversy surrounding Ms. Namugenyi began on June 13 when she mobilized a team of security personnel, including army and police officers and self-proclaimed bailiffs, to demolish a house belonging to Simon Herbart Alideki. Mr. Alideki and his sister, Stella Nambi, had earlier petitioned the High Court in Fort Portal, challenging the “unfair” distribution of their late father Simon Peter Kasikisa’s properties by their siblings from another mother.
Despite a court injunction, RDC Namugenyi proceeded with the eviction, prompting intervention from Ms. Diana Mutasingwa, the State Minister in the Office of the Vice-President. “I am calling Minister Babalanda. What kind of nonsense is this? You people are sent to represent the President but instead you’re misrepresenting him. What makes it hard for you to wait for the court decision to implement the eviction? Who paid you?” Ms. Mutasingwa demanded.
Ms. Mutasingwa, also the Buikwe Woman MP, was present in Njeru Municipality during the eviction, where the RDC failed to produce an eviction order or minutes from the district security committee.
In her directive to Hajj Kakande, Ms. Babalanda noted that the “hot exchange” between the RDC and Minister Mutasingwa had “caused much public debate, deeply discrediting the office of the President.” She instructed Hajj Kakande to produce a detailed report on the issue, as per her earlier guidance. The letter was copied to the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, and Minister Mutasingwa.
“As an interim measure, the Deputy RDC of Buikwe should take charge of the RDC office,” Ms. Babalanda added.
RDC Namugenyi’s troubles escalated on June 22 when residents from various villages in Buikwe stormed the district headquarters, protesting her alleged corrupt practices. The residents accused the RDC of soliciting money ranging from Shs2 to Shs3 million to address their concerns, claiming she often collected money through her deputy and sometimes secretaries.
