Gross civil servants absenteeism irks Kabarole councillors

Kabarole District leaders are irked by the gross absenteeism of health workers and sub county civil servants leading to poor service delivery.

During the spontaneous tour of the district projects in the sub counties of Kabende, Hakibaale and Kijura town council, and Burahya county on Wednesday, the councillors led by the district Chairperson Richard Rwabuhinga and the speaker Stella Kyorampe were shocked to find the sub county headquarters and health facilities abandoned.

According to their findings at Kabende sub county, workers have never reported for duty since they went for Christmas. At Kijura town council, the offices were open but no staff while at Hakibaale sub county, the offices were locked by 3:40pm.

"I'm so shocked that since Christmas the sub county offices have been closed because all the workers are still on holidays," said Kyorampe.

At Kabende health centre III, the in charge Dr.Deo Asiimwe and his few staff were present with renovation of administration block by Baylor going on while at Kijura health centre III, two nurses were found sleeping by 4:30pm.

The in charge at Kijura health centre III, Karamagi Isaiah and his workers had signed in the attendance book but disappeared before 11:00am and according to the attendance book, Beatrice Karungi and Namukoze Patience had signed ahead for Thursday January 12, an act that forced the district chairperson to confiscate the registration book for action to be taken against them.

"How do you sign for duty when the day has not yet reached that is totally wrong and we are going to take action against such medics," Rwabuhinga said.

"This is an embarrassing situation to find all the technical staff in the health facilities and sub counties absent. The chief administrative officer should prioritize monitoring of these technocrats because there is a big gap between workers and the community," said Ruta Gideon.

The councillor representing Kasenda, Kaganda Saidat of West division said: "I'm so dismayed by civil servants who deny the public services when government has done its work to build the facilities, stock them with drugs and also pay workers. They should style up and become responsible Ugandans".

Rwakyaka Mary of South division Fort Portal municipality said that the absenteeism of health workers explains why the pregnant mothers and other members of the public have abandoned the government facilities to getting services from private clinics.

The councillors resolved that the chief Administrative officer should intensify the monitoring of the health facilities and sub counties offices to improve service delivery.

The district CAO Dunstan Balaba vowed to take action against the workers who have failed to follow the code of conduct and the public service standing orders.

"It has been brought to my attention I am going to take action against all those civil servants who have not yet reported back for duty because they are denying people services," Balaba said.