Deputy head of RDCs calls for teamwork among Lira leaders
Akiror urged leaders to mobilise the community to embrace government programmes like the Parish Development Model, Emmyoga and cattle restocking to better their lives.
Deputy head of RDC's Sr. Akiror being guided by Lira LCV Okello as she inspected the district headquarters construction after the leaders' meeting at Ogur Town Council. (Photos by Joseph Ekol)
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The Deputy Head of the Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) Secretariat in the office of the President, Rev. Sr. Dr. Mary Grace Akiror, has asked leaders in Lira city and district to put aside personal and political differences and focus on delivering services to the people.
She said the continuous bickering among the top district leaders will derail the innocent community services, yet the leaders' role is to ensure that people enjoy better services.
“You cannot work in isolation and above all, you should know that that office is not yours, it's not your home. We have the mandate to remove you from there because you are given to hold it in trust,” Akiror cautioned.
Akiror sounded the warning during the separate mobilisation meetings on service delivery within Lira city and district on November 9 and 10.
Akiror met leaders at Ogur Town Council at a proposed construction site for the district headquarters.
Akiror urged leaders to mobilise the community to embrace government programmes like the Parish Development Model, Emmyoga and cattle restocking to better their lives.
She warned leaders against corruption, emphasising that; "those caught diverting public funds will not be spared."
Sr. Akiror is being welcomed on arrival at Lira district by LCV Okello Orik (in a black suit) and Lira City RCC Egole, as well as DICO, following the scheduled meeting with the leaders on service delivery
She urged the district leadership to improve internal controls and carry out checks and balances to improve accountability.
The deputy head of RDCs used the gathering to introduce Molly Beatrice Abang, as the acting RDC for Lira district following the removal of Lillian Eyal due to allegations of theft of public funds, for which she is being investigated.
She challenged the Lira RDC (Abang) and Resident City Commissioner (Lawrence Egole) to uphold ethical conduct and ensure that the President's office works in harmony with the political and technical wing of the district for the good of the community.
Akiror directed Egole to investigate the allegations of indiscipline and intimidation against assistant RCC Sam Olang and furnish her office with a report.
Akiror also warned against the sale of government jobs, saying any member of the District Public Service Commission who will be found selling jobs will pay a huge price.
She noted that in many districts where she has been, District Service Commissions were selling government jobs with impunity.
In some districts, she noted, some members of the District Service Commission were reserving positions for their family members, including children.
"Selling government jobs is criminal, and when we get you, you will pay for it,” she cautioned, before appealing to leaders to be transparent in exercising their mandate while in public offices.
The Service Delivery Mobilisation meetings were attended by the Lira Chief Administrative Officer, Mayor, RDCs, their deputies and assistants, as well as members of the District Service Commission, sub-county chairpersons and religious leaders.
Richard Okello Orik, the Lira district chairperson, thanked the RDC Secretariat for intervening in the leadership fight in the district, saying the bickering had left civil servants with no moral work, hence affecting service delivery.
Rev. Fr. Ambrose Adupa, the curate of Agweng Catholic Parish, encouraged leaders to double their efforts in reaching out to the people, and asked them to serve people with love.
As Akiror closed the day, she visited the Lira district headquarters construction site, where a magnificent sh4b administration block is being constructed by the Uganda People's Defence Forces Engineering Brigade.