Motorcycle Seized , Town Clerk Locked Out in Chaotic Merikit T/C Handover.
By Lazima Wangadya.
Chaos and accusations rocked the handover ceremony at Merikit Town Council Tororo district on Thursday after outgoing LC3 Chairperson John Okea refused to surrender a government motorcycle, demanding payment of an alleged Shs4.5 million debt owed to him by Town Clerk Jacob Jakwo.
What was expected to be a peaceful transition of power quickly descended into a bitter confrontation as Okea publicly accused Jakwo of mismanaging government funds and failing to settle outstanding financial obligations.
Speaking before local leaders and residents gathered for the handover, Okea claimed that Jakwo had been “pocketing” government funds meant for the town council and service providers.
“I will not hand over this motorcycle until my money is paid,” Okea declared, accusing the town clerk of deliberately evading him by failing to report to office regularly and ignoring his phone calls.
Okea further alleged that Merikit Town Council owes service providers more than Shs10 million due to what he described as gross financial mismanagement by Jakwo.
The allegations were echoed by outgoing councillors who retained their seats in the recent elections. The councillors accused the town clerk of mishandling funds earmarked for councillors’ allowances and road maintenance projects worth over Shs10 million.
In a dramatic escalation, angry councillors led by outgoing Deputy Speaker Mary Ayo stormed and locked Jakwo’s office, confiscating the keys in protest over alleged unpaid councillors’ allowances amounting to Shs3.5 million.
Outgoing Speaker Martins Osinde Ekwaro warned the newly elected Speaker Simon Peter Obonyo and LC3 Chairperson Emmanuel Wandera to be vigilant, claiming Jakwo could frustrate their leadership if the issues remain unresolved.
“As councillors, we sought intervention from the offices of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), and the LCV Chairperson, but nothing was done,” Ekwaro said. “This makes us suspect that Jakwo has powerful godfathers protecting him.”
However, Town Clerk Jacob Jakwo dismissed the accusations, describing some of the councillors as saboteurs bent on tarnishing his name.
The controversy comes amid claims that Jakwo was previously transferred from Pajwenda Town Council following similar allegations involving the misuse of government and councillors’ funds.
The standoff left the official handover process hanging in uncertainty as pressure mounted on authorities to investigate the allegations and restore order at the troubled town council
