Live where you work, district chairperson orders

The Rukungiri district chairperson, Andrewson Katebire has directed all civil servants to stay at their places of work beginning next year as the way of delivering service to people in time.

Katebire said that directive will begin with sub-county chiefs, sub-county accountants, primary school headteachers and health centre in charges before it enrolls to all traditional civil servants and teachers.

He made directive on Thursday during end of year council meeting presided over by the deputy speaker, Milly Mbabazi in the district council hall.

He asked the chief administrative officer, Christopher Kyomya Sunday to make sure he implements the directive beginning next year without fail so that that those who will not make it face disciplinary action.

"There is no way we can improve on service delivery and reduce late coming as well as absenteeism when the civil servants are still sleeping miles from their places of work," he said.

He revealed that only three sub-county chiefs of Nyakishenyi, Nyarushanje and Bugangari are only ones staying at the sub-county the rest stay in Rukungiri municipality. Rukungiri district has nine sub-counties and four town councils.

"I do not get logic to why a town clerk of Kebisoni does not rent a house in Kebisoni town, but wants to rent in Rukungiri Municipality?" he asked. If your job is in Kebisoni you must stay in Kebisoni, the question of saying there is no government houses at place of work no longer holds sense because house rent is included on the salaries.

"Even all of us who are here in government houses we pay rent every month, even if you stay at work in government facility you will have to pay for it," he said.

Katebire added that civil servants should be like all security agencies because you cannot find officer in charge of Nyarushanje Police Post that is staying in Rukungiri municipality.

"If the one in charge of Police, prison or internal security in the sub county stay in their respective sub counties why not the sub county chief or health centre in charge within the sub county?" he asked.

Council also overwhelmingly supported the resolution of ULGA that all district councilors should have a minimum qualification of S4 or its equivalent beginning next elections.

They also resolved that government should increase the salary of district speaker from sh800,000 to sh7.5m, deputy speaker from sh600,000 to sh5m while district councillors from sh200,000 to at least sh1.5m monthly.

Councillors also approved the five member land committee for Nyakagyeme sub-county that includes Charles Kacebezi as its chairperson, others are Kosia Kamanyi, Peace Rwabugundu, John Barugahare and Faith Kamagara.

The chief administrative officer, Christopher Kyomya Sunday congratulated councillors upon the extension of their term in office that Parliament passed a day earlier.

He said the long awaited Kahengye water project will be complete by April and over 150,000 people will benefit from the project by getting good and safe water in their homes.