CAOs rapped over influence peddling

By Francis Emorut

CHIEF Administrative Officers (CAOs) have been criticized for influence peddling in awards of contracts to people within their circles leading to poor service delivery as a result of shoddy work.

The attacks on district accounting officers were mounted by MPs, district leaders and members of civil society organizations who said the "invisible hand" (contractors) who win tender bids are either owned by the former or given to their cronies.

The word invisible hand/arm was coined by the Pader accounting officer, Andrew Leru who blamed politicians as being the ones behind influencing contracts to be awarded to companies owned by them.

"The biggest challenge we have in the districts when awarding contracts is invisible hand within the house. 

“The elected leaders front their own companies," Leru told participants during a key stakeholders' dialogue on government policy and practice in revenue collection in the districts.

The dialogue organized by Southern and Eastern African Trade information and Negotiation Institute (SEATINI) and supported by USAID through Governance Accountability Participation Performance Programme (GAPP) took place in Kampala.

It was moderated by Prof. Ndebesa Mwabutsya a senior lecturer at Makerere University who said leaders must be held accountable for their actions in the districts.

"It's after payment and there is a disagreement is when you realize that there was an invisible hand," Leru said.

Leru thought that he would pass the blame to elected leaders but instead drew wrath from the audience.

"The most powerful people in the districts are town clerks and accounting officers. They are the ones involved in the invisible hand project," Kitgum Mayor Richard Ojara said drawing applause from the audience.

"God should help us with these people," he said.

Serere MP Stephen Ochola pointed out that are CAOs were to blame for poor service delivery in the districts because they are the ones in charge of contracts committee.

He reasoned that the tender boards were abolished because they were appointed by the political arm and the technocrats took charge of the contracts committee.

"How dare you to say it's the politicians influencing awards?" Ochola asked.

The deputy LC5 Kitgum Titus Oryema amused the audience when he said accounting officers are gents of Lucifer.

Kasese Woman MP Winnie Kiiza criticized the CAOs for allowing themselves to be used by the powerful people in the ministries.

Ugin Semakula for Advocates Coalition of Development and Environment said the syndrome of ‘nfunirawa’ (how do I gain?) was killing service delivery in this country.

He urged the politicians and technocrats to work together as a team to benefit society.

He was supported by Oryema who said team spirit is crucial for service delivery rather than blame game.

"Team spirit is vital. Blame game will not take us anywhere but must have a vision for our country," Oryema said.

Nelly Busingye program officer of SEATINI implored the technocrats and politicians to work as a team.

"You must work together. Otherwise, it's the grass to suffer (when too elephants fight)," Busingye said.

The participants decried lack of resource revenue avenues in the districts calling upon government to increasing funding for the latter to cause effective and efficient service delivery.