Lazoro Apunyo
A section of Moroto District councilors has accused their Speaker Emmanuel Lomuria, over bias and flouting council procedures while chairing council sessions.
This was during a heated council sitting convened on Thursday, August 20, 2026, to constitute committee members the district standing committees and District Service Commission since the term of the outgoing commission has expired.
During the meeting, the Speaker, Lomuria wanted to be the one nominating members of both standing committees and district service commission without scrutinizing their academic credentials.
However, the sitting turned into a legal battle field as some councilors opposed the idea, accusing the speaker of impartiality and flouting rules of procedure.
Cosmas Ayepa, the councilor representing North Division, said it was unlawful for the Speaker to suppress the powers of councilors to approve members of the standing committees and District Service Commission as provided by the Local Government Act.
“The council session was marred with a lot of injustices because the Speaker did not follow the rule of procedures instead he was charing council in a Kangaro manner”, Lokiru stated.
He explained that the members of the District Service Commission are proposed by the District Executive Community (DEC) and forwarded to council for approval before the names are submitted to the Ministry of Public Service.
“Ministry of Public Service expects the council to appoint people of high moral character and proven integrity, not just keeping people from the streets to become members of the District Service Commission”, Ayepa remarked.
Similarly Emmanuel Lokiru Lomonyang, the councilor for Katikekile Sub County, accused the Speaker of suppressing the powers of the councilors to scrutinize the academic credentials of the appointees to the District Service Commission.
According to him, the appointment of District Service Commission members must follow due process to avoid them from being bounced by the Ministry of Public Service.
Rose Adero Lokii, the councilor representing Loputuk Sub County explained that the Speaker is supposed to guide council business, according to the relevant laws not in what she described as “Kangaroo style”.
“The Speaker, who is in charge of council business needs capacity building so that he is able to handle council proceedings in line with the established council rules and procedures”, Adero explained.
Adero Lokii, called on the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to source for resources and organise induction of councilors on their roles and responsibilities.
She explained that most of the councilors, especially entrants including the Speaker are fidgeting with debate in council due to lack of understanding about the rules of procedures.
However, Speaker Emmanuel Lomuria dismissed the councilors concerns, noting that the rule of procedures were critically followed.
Lomuria clarified that the responsibility of councillors is to consider and approve matters brought before the council through the established structures.
