Apac: Government vehicles rot in garages due to lack of funds

26 October 2023, 6:53 pm

By Mike Okwang Ogule & Isaac Newton Abili

At least four vehicles belonging to Apac District local government are currently parked and said to be ‘rotting’ in different garages in Kampala and Lira city due to lack of funds to clear for their mechanical bills.

Radio Apac has learnt that the district is apparently relying on only three vehicles to transact government’s related businesses across the district.

According to sources, the four vehicles were taken for minor and major repairs way back in 2020 but due to financial challenges, the district was unable to get them back for use.

Among these vehicles are; Ford Ranger, reg. no. LG 004009, for health department which is currently parked at Cooper Motor garage in Kampala and a double cabin reg. no. UG0468Z for NUSAF3, currently in Lira for repair and two others.

Speaking to Radio Apac on Wednesday, Peter Obong Acuda, the Apac District speaker said in July this year the District council approved Shs. 24 million to clear the accumulated mechanical bill for the vehicle belonging to the current district chairperson Mr. Ikomba Asante Odongo implying that out of the four vehicles at the garage only one is yet to be released as per the district council according to Mr. Obong.

Mr. Tonny Jasper Odongo, the Apac District LC 5 Vice chairperson also the leader of government business said lack of transport has affected monitoring of government programs and delivering services like health, among others which has negatively affected the district’s normal business.

When contacted for comments, the Chief Administrative Officer Apac Mr. George Adoko confirmed the development saying even the current vehicles in use are too old and most of them require frequent minor repair despite financial challenges.

One of the civil servants in the district who spoke to Radio Apac on condition of anonymity attributed the rise in the level of mechanical breakdown of government vehicles in the district to misuse by the custodians at the expense of tax payers who are entitled to the already grappled service delevery in the district.

According to the public service standing order (2010), all government vehicles should be parked and secured after working hours, i.e., 8am to 5pm, or otherwise with explicit written authorization from a rightful accounting officer, if officially outside working hours and/ or weekends.

Contrary to this order, most government vehicles and motorcycles are often seen loaded with unauthorized items such as charcoal, food, firewood, pigs, beer or engaged in a private transportation for one’s gain which tantamount to misuse and abuse of government property.