DISAPPOINTMENT AS ZOMBO COUNCILORS GO MONTHS WITHOUT PAY

Zombo Councilor’s for a council meeting at the district headquarters recently. PHOTO/MIKE RWOTHOMIO 
 
 By Mike Rwothomio

Zombo

After going for months without an ounce of information regarding their ex gratia payment, councilors, LCI and II chairpersons of Paidha town council in Zombo district have bitterly complained, further demanding a serious explanation from the district leadership over their payment.
 
The councilors in a press conference on July 9th at Paidha town council boardroom said, for the fourth quarter of last fiscal year; they have gone without pay expressing absolute worries.
 
Agnes Aciro Oroma, the female councilor Nyibola ward who double as the chairperson works and transport committee, expressed disappointment about   the district's silence over the matter notwithstanding their repeated calls for any assurance. 
 
"Our ex gratia for the fourth quarter of last fiscal year wasn't paid and we are really worried. In 2019/20 fiscal year, I was amongst the councilors that missed their payment in the district and up to date, no one paid our ex gratia. We need the district to explain something to us, it's the only money we get from the government yet we have so many responsibilities as councilors. The challenge is that the district has gone silent over the matter for a while now," Aciro said.
 
Meanwhile Lydia Musango, the vice chairperson of Paidha town council appealed to the concerned authorities to address the matter with immediacy adding that, “all our Councilors, chairpersons LCI and LC II are so frustrated".
 
 According to the Local Government Act, City councilors are entitled to a monthly allowance (ex- gratia) of 250,000 Shillings, while the City Division councilors 175,000 Shillings and 35,000 Shillings for Town Council and Municipal Division Chairpersons.
 
The deputy speaker of Paidha town council Joyce Kayeny, noted with concerns about the delayed payment and recounted how demoralized the local leaders are currently.
 
The councilors also alleged that their counterparts from Zombo, Abanga and Paidha Sub-Counties are equally undergoing the similar fate. But this claim couldn't be independently verified by press time.
 
Relatedly, a handful of councilors who whispered to this reporter blamed the district for their failure on clarity about the issue that has become a pressing concern amongst local leaders.
 
For years, Paidha town council has been rated high over other lower local governments in terms of local revenue mobilization by Zombo District leadership.

What the district is saying?
 
In response to the concerns raised, the chief administrative officer of Zombo David Lubuka said“you look for the town clerk because we met him yesterday and told him the reason, so he knows them, he knows what we told him, him and the treasurer they know, they know very well, I cannot repeat myself" 
 
However, getting response from Desmond Odota, the town clerk of Paidha town council proved futile by press time.