A group of councillors and stakeholders in Mbarara City has come out against efforts to remove the city's Chief Finance Officer, David Mbarekye, opening a new front in his dispute with Mayor Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi. At a press conference in Mbarara on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, the group rejected a push by the Mayor and his allies to have the CFO step aside, according to Red Pepper.
The development follows an earlier press conference at which the Mayor, members of his executive and several councillors, including representatives from Mbarara City North Division, resolved to ask the City Town Clerk to act against Mbarekye. The Mayor's camp accuses the finance officer of undermining government projects, causing financial losses to the city, holding up payments and mischarging.
Why it matters
The disagreement now pits elected leaders against each other over the conduct of a senior city technocrat, and those involved warn that city services could suffer if it continues. The two camps give sharply different accounts of Mbarekye's record: his accusers describe a finance officer who has frustrated government programmes and delayed transactions, while his defenders describe one who has refused to release funds in order to protect public money. Red Pepper reports that stakeholders fear the dispute could grow into a wider political and administrative battle.
Councillors say Mbarekye resisted pressure over funds
The group that met on Wednesday was led by Adam Abas, a councillor for Mbarara City South Division. Abas argued that the Mayor and his team were making a serious error by seeking the CFO's removal, according to Red Pepper.
Abas and his colleagues presented Mbarekye as a public officer who has held his ground against corruption. They said his refusal to release certain funds was meant to keep public resources from being misused. They further alleged that some city leaders were displeased with the CFO because he had resisted pressure to release money they wanted to access, and they argued that the standoff should not be allowed to disrupt the city's operations.
The group also included Moses Kajubi, councillor for Katete in Mbarara City South Division; Steven Muganga, former LC3 Chairman of Biharwe Division and coordinator of Global Anti-Corruption; Rajab Sansa, a People's Liberation Union mobiliser in Mbarara; and stakeholder Omar Mayanja.
Calls for bishops, sheikhs and prominent figures to mediate
Bright Muhumuza, a former aspirant for the Mbarara City South parliamentary seat and a National Unity Platform coordinator, warned that the growing rift between elected leaders and city technocrats could end up harming ordinary residents. He alleged that some people in the city's leadership were driving the conflict for their own interests and said continued wrangling risked bringing service delivery to a halt.
Muhumuza called on religious leaders, including bishops and sheikhs, and prominent stakeholders to step in and bring the two sides to the negotiating table. He named former Mayor Tumwiine and well-known Mbarara stakeholder Jovia Saleh among those he believes could help broker a lasting understanding.
He also urged leaders in the city to stop encouraging conflict among themselves and civil servants, asking why division leaders should be at odds with city leadership and saying there should be no war between a Member of Parliament and Mayor Kakyebezi. Muhumuza said that if reconciliation fails, the President should intervene.
The Wednesday press conference followed the Mayor's earlier meeting, at which his side resolved to task the Town Clerk with taking action against Mbarekye. Red Pepper reports that the opposing camps continue to describe the CFO's role in the city's financial management in very different terms.
What to watch: whether the Town Clerk acts on the Mayor's request, and whether the religious and civic figures named by Muhumuza agree to mediate.
