By Weswa Ronnie
NAMISINDWA
Councillors of Namisindwa district local government and LCIII Chairpersons have petitioned the Ministry of local government demanding immediate transfer of the Chief Administrative Officer, Francis Olaboro.
According to the petition seen by our reporter dated 16th September, 2022, the councilors and LCIII Chairpersons accuse the CAO for mismanagement of startup funds for newly created 8 sub counties and 4 town councils amounting to Shs448 million.
Other allegations indicated in the petition include; having poor working relationship with the political side, poor performance of the district during national assessment, mismanagement of district pay roll among others.
Emma Bwayo, the Namisindwa Male Youth Councilor says the accounting officer has on several occasions been tasked to explain some of these issues in council but he dodges explaining them. Bwayo adds that in most cases, the CAO takes issues of importance so personal especially when councilors critique his irregularities.
He adds that as councilors they want the ministry of local government to transfer Olaboro and bring in a new CAO.
Meanwhile, Jackson Wakaika, the LCV chairperson of Namisindwa district has refuted some allegations in the petition saying this might result negatively on councilors and LCIII chairpersons who petitioned since they have no evidence.
He urged them to have an audit done such that they can come up with real evidence about mismanagement of money before petitioning.
Dorothy Wolukawu, the Namisindwa District Speaker has blamed councilors and LCIII chairpersons for not seeking her office before petitioning.
She adds that the allegations are weak and small which does not warrant a petition to the Ministry saying the aggrieved petitioners should have instead sat with the CAO in a round table and iron out these issues.
However, getting a comment from Francis Olaboro by press time was futile after he declined to pick this reporter’s repeated calls.
