Benigna Mukiibi, if you have socks pull them up!

SIR—I read with interest the letters which appeared in your issue of July 17 and August 9 regarding the “mafia” in the Department of Pensions in the Ministry of Public Service at Wandegeya. Making a trip to the pension office at Wandegeya is real torture. The office is supposed to deal with senior citizens who have retired after faithfully serving the government in various capacities. But the sharks at Wandegeya make many of these people die before enjoying the benefits of their service offered in the prime of their lives. Once retired, a pensioner must make several “pilgrimages” to Wandegeya before getting their dues. Are these expensive and tiresome journeys necessary? Not at all! The pensions department should be decentralised as soon as possible. Decentralisation of this department has many advantages: lit will bring services closer to the beneficiaries. A senior citizen from upcountry with a problem will not have to worry about money for transport and to bribe the incompassionateand shameless sharks at Wandegeya. He would merely borrow a bicycle or walk to the district headquarters to solvehis problem. l The “mafia” at Wandegeya would be scattered in all districts where their diabolical actions would easily be detected by other arms of government. l senior citizens in the upcountry districts have easier access to government officials in the district. Such officials are the chief administrative officer, the LC5 chairman, the Resident District Commissioner, the police and even members of the district councils. If a pensioner is mistreated, he can easily report to any of those officers for appropriate action. This threat alone would make pensions officials more active, efficient and less corrupt and more human. What is so annoying and baffling is that there is a minister of state in the Public service, particularly responsible for pensions. This miniser is Benigna Mukiibi. Does she ever read the papers? Why, in God’s holy name has she never made a public statement and taken stern action on the issue? Maybe that is not an issue to her because her cozy nest is well-feathered. How can she be so impervious to public outcry? What are the pensioners supposed to do? If Mukiibi has socks, this is the time to pull them up! Peter Ali M'omirio, Kampala