By John Ogulei
SOROTI
The newly created Soroti City has failed to pay its staff salaries for the month of January, seven months after it was officially inaugurated in July 2020.
In a letter dated 1st February 2021 that has been seen by this reporter signed by the Soroti City acting Town Clerk, Moses Otimong, staff members are informed that there has been delay in payment of January salaries.
The letter is copied to all staff, Soroti District Chairperson LCV, Soroti City Caretaker Mayor and Soroti District Chief Administrative Officer.
“As you are aware, it is the policy of government that salaries should always be paid by the 28th of every month but for the case of salaries for the month of January 2021, this has not been the case,” reads part of the letter.
Otimong also in his letter added that, “the delay in payment of the salary for the month of January 2021 has been as a result of no cash limits despite the approved expenditure limits by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development – Kampala.”
Otimong however concluded that, once the cash limits are availed the salary for January shall be paid accordingly.
But speaking to some of the City staff who preferred anonymity, they said the City authority is currently operating in a financial crisis despite the approved expenditures.
“There is no money right now at the council, that’s why you even see garbage littered almost in every street of Soroti,” one staff member told this reporter. Adding that they are not yet sure of even getting salaries for February.
One of the top leaders at the council who also spoke to our reporter but asked not to be named said, he today (Tuesday) visited the council for the first since the year started because he has been busy on campaigns. He said he was shocked to be notified that the staff salary for January was affected by no cash limits.
Efforts to get a comment from Otimong on how long workers will be paid were fruitless as he repeatedly refused to pick this reporter’s calls.
When our reporter visited his office, his secretary said Mr. Otimong had no time to speak to the media over the matter.
