COUNCILLORS CAST-OFF PLAN OF OFFERING DISTRICT COWS TO SETTLE ARREARS OF SECURITY GUARD

Zombo District held its council on first quarter performance report.
 
By Mike Rwothomio
 
Zombo
 
A section of Councillors in Zombo District have rejected a recommendation by the District Production, natural resources and commercial services committee , to offer two out of five cows belonging to the district,  to a security guard at the District Farm institute in Aka Sub County, to clear his arrears.
 
The arrears of the security guard at the District Farm institute according to the committee has climbed to Ugx 3.2 million. 
 
It is not clear from which year the arrears started accumulating.
 
The committee tabled the recommendation, on the first quarter performance report for financial year 2024/25 fiscal year, on December 18, 2024 at the district council hall.
 
According to Princess Kristober, the female youth District councillor, who represented the district production committee chairperson, the security guard at the District Farm institute is demanding shs 3.2 million, which the district has not budgeted for in the current financial year.
 
 Kristober said it is against this backdrop that, the committee recommends that the DFI Security guard be given two out of the five cows as part of his arrears.
 
"On making a follow up on the earlier recommendation on the Askari in the district farm institute, where it was noted that the Askari is not laid off yet he is demanding the district a total of unpaid wage of UGX.3.200, 000 which is not budgeted for by the District in the current financial year." She explained.
 
She added “the committee recommends that the DFI Askari be given two cows of the 5 as payment of his arrears or wages while the remaining three be sold off" 
 
 The District Farm institute in Aka sub county sits on over 100 acres of land, housing several projects including the presidential Skilling hub.
 
Meanwhile Denis Dongwa Omika, the secretary production committee defends the proposal, arguing about their failed attempt to clear the arrears was not given much attention by the District budget desk, on grounds that there was no funds.
 
“We have been struggling in the department to pay the Askari, but you know very well that much of our funds which comes in the department are conditional and we don't have any money to pay the Askari. When we requested the budget desk to pay for us the Askari, they said they don't have any allocation that's why, we proposed that we should give the two cows to clear the debt on us" said Dongwa 
 
DIVERGENT VIEWS 
 
However, Denis Ocuna, the district councillor for Warr critiqued the proposal, calling for acquisition of more animals at the facility.
 
Joyce Ayabutho, the female councillor for Nyapea Sub-County wondered whether the district plans to close the farm institute for good. She vehemently rejected the proposal, questioning the District why the security guard was not paid for such a long period of time.
 
The LCV chairperson of Zombo James Oruna Oyullu, equally rejected the proposal to offer the animals to clear the arrears of the security guard. He recommended for the security guard's retention and payment by the CAO's office and line department in the coming fiscal year.
 

"This is just an appeal to the line department and the CAO's office and the budget desk that in the coming financial year, let's allocate local revenue to clear the Askari arrears and continue paying him using local revenue because in the previous financial year, there was no clear budget allocation for this effect" Oyullu explained.
 
The council speaker of Zombo Hassan Ringtho, tasked the concerned authorities to take up the council resolutions seriously, for effective service delivery in the district.
 
Meanwhile the Resident district commissioner of Zombo Festus Ayikobua, tasked each departments to extensively do oversight roles in the district, to bolster service delivery.