By Andrew Cohen Amvesi
ARUA
The Minister of Local Government, Raphael Magyezi has said his ministry needs shs1bn to relocate Arua district from Arua city center.
According to Magyezi, they can’t direct Arua district to leave without providing them the necessary resources to establish their own home first.
The Minister’s remarks in Arua city on Saturday followed several concerns raised by Arua city officials who requested him to expedite the process of relocating Arua district to Vurra County.
Kalsum Abdu, the Arua city secretary for social services, told the Minister that the city is now constrained in terms of space.
She said the city has recruited many staff who have nowhere to sit due to lack of office space yet Arua district which has fewer staff members has structures in abundance within the city center.
Abdu urged the Minister to consider expediting the process of relocating Arua district so that the city can take possession of those offices for better service delivery.
Similarly, Sam Wadri Nyakua, the Arua city Mayor asked Magyezi to enforce the relocation of Arua district.
He, however, noted that as a city, they are not ready to share land with Arua district apart from movable assets.
“Hon. Minister we can’t share land with the entity that created the city. Where we are sitting now is actually where the central division Mayor is supposed to be sitting. I’m patient and my council here is patient, I have told my community here in the city not to do anything outside the law. Let’s be calm, this business of saying let us go and lock their offices, no! For me I’m not in for that but you look for money, give them because they have land to build their home and once they have finished, let them go,” Nyakua said.
In response, Magyezi said on the issue of assets, he is going to make sure that it is a priority to be handled very quickly.
“I have listened to the sentiments, you don’t have work space but the problem which I want to be genuine about is that I have asked for shs1bn only for each district from Parliament so that I say here is the money, you go and go home, they have not given it to me,” Magyezi said.
“The other day I met the committee on Local Government, I told them and I’m telling my colleagues (MPs) here that if you receive a supplementary budget from the ministry of finance without the shs1bn for Arua district to go home, you put your foot down and reject it. As a Minister, I’m telling you. So, for now I’m just looking at my responsibility – that I tell the district please leave this city without telling them how do you go, where are you going?” Magyezi asked.
The Minister said it is not as easy as just saying that the district should go without preparing them to go.
“It is not as simple as you said that the district should leave us, we need those offices. Yes, I understand but number one, I hope Parliament can give me the money to give these districts to go and start their relocation. Number two, I hope you can agree with me, let us allow that process to be orderly,” Magyezi advised.
In an earlier interview over the demand for Arua district to relocate, Lillian Paparu Obiale, the Arua district woman MP said Arua district will never succumb to any unlawful pressure to go and start operating under a tree.
“Up to when we shall have a structure at Vurra is when Arua district local government will move. These people who are yapping here, who are making noise are not Ministers. Why hasn’t the Minister written to the leadership of Arua that you move, it is because they know the truth, they know they have not given us money. Does the city expect us to move and sit under a tree when Arua district to which Vurra has been part, has land, has structures, has offices. That will never happen. On our dead body, on Paparu’s dead body!” Paparu bitterly responded.
