Apala Town Council Leaders Clash over Signing of 2026/2027 Budget

Apala Town Council Leaders Clash over Signing of 2026/2027 Budget

BY HILARY OPIO OMARA

ALEBTONG- Leaders in Apala Town Council are embroiled in a disagreement over who should sign the 2026/2027 budget, raising concerns over delays in the approval process.

Speaking to the QFM news desk on May 18, 2026, the Deputy Speaker of Apala Town Council, Jaspher Okullu, said the conflict involves the LCIII Chairperson, George Sunday Opio, and the Speaker of the council, Abakuk Ogwang.

Okullu explained that the Speaker had reportedly given authority to the Chairperson to sign the budget, but the Chairperson declined. He further revealed that misunderstandings between the two leaders have persisted since 2021.

According to the Deputy Speaker, the 2026/2027 budget has not yet been approved by the council.

When contacted, Chairperson George Sunday Opio confirmed that the budget has not been passed by the council, saying he could not append his signature to a document that had not yet been officially approved.

Opio added that he had attempted to advise the Speaker on the proper budget procedures, but his advice was allegedly misunderstood. He said he is now waiting for the Town Clerk to convene a meeting aimed at resolving the disagreement surrounding the budget process.

Efforts to get a comment from Speaker Abakuk Ogwang were unsuccessful, as he requested to be contacted later. Attempts to reach the Town Clerk also proved futile.

Most sub-counties and districts across Uganda have already completed and approved their 2026/2027 budgets, but Apala Town Council remains behind schedule due to the ongoing impasse.