By Daniel Edyegu

THE Tororo district council has approved sh80m to buy a four-wheel drive car for the LC5 chief, Emmanuel Osuna.

The councillors also raised their sitting allowance to sh300,000 from sh250,000 and recommended that the district buys a van for their movement.

At a meeting on Wednesday, Osuna also handed back the keys to a Land Rover, UG1225A he had been using, which belongs to the agricultural department.

This year’s budget provided for sh40m for the LC5 chairman’s car. The Chief Administrative Officer, Sylvester Oboth, however, said the money could only fetch a used car. MPs recently sparked a public storm when they asked for sh60m for cars.

But Oboth told the council, “The Government deters us from buying used vehicles. So we searched further and got one at sh74m.” The councillors recommended the Nissan car be procured before December 31. In the meantime, the district is to hire a vehicle for him.

Addressing a council meeting at Tororo Teacher’s Resource Centre, Osuna said somebody accused him at the agriculture ministry of grabbing the Land Rover and hampering the monitoring and implementation of agricultural projects.

“I was shocked to receive a call from the permanent secretary telling me that I grabbed the vehicle. I love this district. My efforts are geared towards its development. I should not be seen as a saboteur to development,” Osuna said.