Admin units discrepancies and unpaid leaders shake Pader

5 August 2024, 08:39

By Lakomekec Kinyera

Several questions remain unanswered following a letter sent to the Ministry of Local Government regarding payments for village chairpersons, parish councils, and chairpersons by the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Pader district.

In his letter dated 12 June 2024, Mr. Wanje Micheal, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Pader, reported 1,359 councillors in various positions, 890 villages, and 98 parishes. Previously, there were 877 villages and 97 parishes.

Questions now arise about the origin of these new units. Mr. Adonga Phillip, Pader’s finance chairperson, during the Waroco Paco show on 3 August 2024, confirmed only 97 parishes, contrary to the letter’s claim of 98.

Earlier, a letter from a leader to the Ministry of Local Government indicated exaggerated statistics. Mr. Wanje admitted he is unsure about the figures due to his new role. The Pader district chairperson, Mr. Fearless Obwoya Oyat, while interacting with our reporter, attributed the surge to typing errors, maintaining that there are 97 parishes and 877 villages.

This follows a public outcry from various leaders who blamed the district officials for exaggerating the numbers of the administrative units for their financial gains.

Additionally, village chairpersons, parish councillors, and LC2s were not provided with their ex-gratia and honoraria for the last financial year 2023/2024. LC1 chairpersons were supposed to receive Shs 120,000, LC2 chairpersons Shs 120,000, and LC3s Shs 420,000, but these payments were not made. They had earlier threatened to protest but did not.

Aruu County Member of Parliament, Mr. Komakech Christopher, has tasked government ministries to clear pending payments of honoraria and ex-gratias to lower local leaders in Pader district. Mr. Komakech made the deliberation during a parliamentary session earlier this week, emphasising the issue, noting a vote of 917 with 1,359 councillors.

He stated that last financial year, the district appropriated funds for ex-gratia and honoraria payments to lower local government leaders, but the releases were significantly below the proposed amount of Shs 385 million. “The district only received Shs 169 million instead of the proposed Shs 385 million,” Mr. Komakech highlighted.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa tasked the Minister for Local Government to respond, noting the problem is nationwide. “The issue of insufficient funds for ex-gratia payments is not unique to Pader; it is a widespread problem that needs urgent attention,” Mr. Tayebwa said.

Minister Raphael Magyezi explained that a request for a supplementary budget was made last year to pay the councillors, but the issue persists despite detailed reports from Chief Administrative Officers. “We have requested a supplementary budget, but the issue remains unresolved. We need intervention from the Office of the Prime Minister,” Minister Magyezi stated.

The statistics remain controversial, calling for clarity.