Lira City leaders face litigation over mayor’s garden fencing deal
By Denish Ongora (denish.ongora@vol.co.ug)
Lira City
Lira City female workers councilor Sarah Awor Angweri has threatened to drag to court the Mayor, town clerk and speaker of Lira city council over allegations of utilizing shillings 2.5 Billion on key infrastructural projects without the council’s approval.
In February 2024, Lira City council announced that they will utilize the unspent balance of 2.5Billion USMID funds on key infrastructure projects which include fencing of mayor’s garden, beautification of Numa grounds and installation of new solar street lights within the central business district.
Through her attorney of Ms. Loi advocates, Awor Angweri in her notice of intention to sue dated 25thof February 2024 to the Town Clerk Tibihika Theophilus, Speaker Okwir Patrick, and Mayor Atul Sam says she will institute both criminal and civil action against the trio within five days for utilizing 2.5 billion shillings to fence the mayors’ garden and beautification of Numa grounds without following due process.
According to Awor, during a council meeting held on the 22nd of February 2024, one of the councilors Julius Peter Ocari Dyangcal raised grave concerns over the matter and demanded to know work had started around the mayor’s garden before council’s approval.
Awor said fencing of the mayors’ commenced much earlier before the Town Clerks letter referenced as CR/210/1 of 18th/02/2024 to kick off the project works.
The vocal councilor says beautification and fencing of mayors garden was tainted with illegality, irrationality and procedural impropriety which squarely rest on their individual,
Awor has given Atul, Tibihika and Okwir five days to respond to her letter of intention to sue, failure of which she will proceed with the matter in court.
Lira city town clerk, Theophilus Tibihika could not be reached for comments by press time as he did not answer our repeated phone calls.
City Mayor Sam Atul said fencing of the Mayor’s garden will go on after court gave a go ahead for them to implement the project after some Lira business men fencing of the mayor’s garden recently.
Speaker Okwir said they are ready to face Awor in court, adding that her concerns are vexatious and frivolous with no merit.
Okwir accused Awor of working to have the balance of USMID project funds returned to the central treasury but they decided to utilize it to support other developments.
Lira city spokesperson, Robert Okello Ayo said they are ready to face Awor in court without any fear.
