BY ZALIMON BASIGHALHA (GOODLUCK)
Authorities in Isango Sub-county, Bukonzo County West in Kasese district have petitioned Mpondwe – Lhubiriha Town Council together with Mpondwe Cross Border Trade and Cooperative Society Limited to the High Court in Fort-portal City over the alleged Criminal Trespass.
Through their Lawyer, Geoffrey Baluku Lubangula from Bagyenda and Company Advocates, the sub-county authorities submitted their petition today in Fort-portal City and wait to receive summons that would be served to the respondents.
The Sub-county L. C III Chairperson, Mr. Moses Tsutsu confirmed the development to rwenzoridaily.com on Monday and argued that they decided to run to court after observing that the two respondents are illegally collecting revenue from a cattle holding market located in Isango sub-county.
In the petition, the sub-county authorities allege that Mpondwe – Lhubiriha Town Council and Mpondwe Cross Border Trade and Cooperative Society Limited are collecting revenue/ taxes from Isango Cattle and Goats Holding market that is not located within the Town Council boundaries.
According to Mr. Tsutsu, it is unconstitutional for a lower administrative unit to collect revenue from another lower administrative unit, a reason why they petitioned the respondents for the alleged criminal trespass in the sub-county.
Mr. Tsutsu and other sub-county leaders now want High Court to issue an interim order stopping Mpondwe – Lhubiriha Town Council and Mpondwe Cross Border Trade and Cooperative Society Limited from collecting revenue from the said market and refund the already collected revenue to the Isango sub-county local government.
It should be noted that Mpondwe Cross Border Cooperative Society Limited are the official contractors of the Cattle Holding Market in Mpondwe –Lhubiriha Town Council.
On October 01, 2022, the Minister of Local Government, Hon. Raphael Magyezi met the different stakeholders from Isango sub-county, Mpondwe –Lhubiriha Town Council and the contractors at Movic Hotel in Mpondwe –Lhubiriha Town Council and tried to harmonize the worrying parties but his efforts seem not to have yielded fruits.
On Sunday, during the market day, police had deployed at the entrance of the market and the Mpondwe –Lhubiriha Town Council L. C III Vice Chairperson, Mr. Unusu Muhindo Kawa told the press that it was lawful for the Town Council authorities to collect revenue from the Isango Cattle and Goats Holding market, adding that they were ready to answer any queries in the courts of law.
Mr. Eric Muhindo, a member of Mpondwe Cross Border Cooperative Society Limited said they were operating from Isango Cattle and Goats Holding Market on behalf of government.
Later, the two Kasese Deputy RDCs including Lt. Maate Magwara in –charge of Bukonzo County and Mr. Zepher Mubingwa in-charge of Busongora County visited the said market and held an indoor meeting with the stakeholders.
Speaking to the press shortly after the meeting, Lt. Magwara asked all the parties to remain calm as the matter would soon be worked upon by the Kasese District Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Erias Byamungu.
