MASINDI: COUNCILLORS DIVIDED OVER CAO’S TRANSFER

By Innocent Atuganyira

MASINDI:

Masindi district councillors were Tuesday evening divided over the transfer of the district Chief Administrative Officer {CAO} Ms. Phionah Sanyu.

This was after the Chairperson Planning, Administration and Investment Committee Denis Tumwine raised a motion for the ministry of local government and public service to transfer the district CAO.

Some of the issues noted in the paper included unnecessary transfer of staff, intimidation, harassment, witch-hunt, failure for CAO to promote a staff, failure for CAO to issue an appointment letter to a civil servant approved by the service commission committee since the interest wasn’t in her favour among others.

Tumwine told the council that the committee therefore commended that if the CAO doesn’t tender a satisfactory to council, the ministry of local government and public service should transfer her services from Masindi to elsewhere.

‘’Mr. Speaker, the committee noted that a lot of disagreements between the CFO and the CAO which has affected the finance department greatly and as a result a lot of unintended funds have been taken back to the national treasury which need to be followed and recovered back to the district,’’ he said.

He further told the council members that the finance noted that if this continues may lead to the collapse of the district, they therefore resolved the duo be separated if they are to deliver services to the people of Masindi.

According to Simon Byaruhanga, the district youth councillor, there is a need for the duo to sit at the round table and solve their disputes rather than fighting each other saying this will affect service delivery in the district.

Byaruhanga is optimistic that the issue will be solved and service delivery will improve in the district.

According to Pamela Nyakato, the woman councillor representing Greater Bwijanga, whether the CAO is pushed out of the district or not, will not solve the challenges the district is facing.

Nyakato asserts that the duo need to sit at a round table and solve their disputes if they are to deliver services to the people of Masindi district or else it will lead to the downfall of the district.

In response, Ms. Phionah Sanyu, the district CAO said that she is supposed to work with the finance department saying that though she is pushed out of the district, the next CAO will be supposed to work with their support.

‘’If the transfer comes it’s normal, the registrar has so many write-ups, whether staying or not it’s all about why you are doing this. I have never left a district in total conflict with my immediate supervisors,’’ she said.

Moses Kirya, the district speaker, said that two committees will be formed to investigate the matter.