MASINDI LC3 CHAIRPERSONS GO 11 MONTHS WITHOUT PAY, THREATEN TO DEMONSTRATE

By Innocent Atuganyira

MASINDI:

The LC3 Chairpersons of nine newly created sub counties and town councils in Masindi district have never received their salaries or start-up funds since they assumed office in May 2021.

This was revealed over the weekend during the  Masindi LC3’s Platform   meeting held at Country Inn Hotel Masindi Town.

The meeting was supposed to be attended by Cosmas Byaruhanga the Masindi district LCV Chairperson, Emmy Ngabirano the Resident District Commissioner Masindi, and the four members of parliament for Masindi.

Only two members of parliament turned up and they are Hon. Joab Businge the Municipal MP, and Ronald Akugizibwe Aled thr Buruli County MP.

Speaking to Journalists shortly after the meeting, Mansur Bwohe the LC3 Chairperson Kijunjubwa sub county who also doubles as the Publicity Secretary for the LC3’s Platform  explained that they have spent 11 months in the office without any pay or   start-up fund since there sub counties are newly created.

Masindi has nine newly created sub counties and town councils and they are, Kijunjubwa Sub County, Kiruli Sub County, Labogo Sub County, Nyantonzi Sub County, Kijunjubwa town council, Kyatiri town council, Bikoozi Sub County, Kabango Town Council and Buliima town council.

According to Mansur, the district received the funds but failed to  dispatched  the money  to the respective newly created sub counties and town councils.

‘’The district received funds in January, and we are still wondering what has failed them from releasing the money to the respective newly created sub counties and town councils,’’ Mansur wonders.

The sub county and town council LC3 chairpersons are entitled to receive monthly wage of 380,000 shillings. The newly created sub counties are supposed to get 31 million shillings and town councils 51 million shillings as start-up funds which is not the case in Masindi.

Edward Baguma the LC3 Chairperson Kiruli Sub County told journalists that since they are entitled to be paid, they want the district to pay them before the end of this financial year.

He explained that delay to pay them has greatly affected service delivery in the area. ‘’We should be paid before this financial year ends, the money is at the district, we don’t know what has delayed disbursement of the funds,’’ Baguma wondered.

Sapline Balyebuga the LC3 Kabago Town Council asserted that they approved supplementary budget hoping to receive the money but to their dismay they haven’t received it. He said it’s affecting service delivery in his town council.

Balyebuga also disclosed that delay to disburse the funds for the newly created sub counties and town councils is greatly affecting service delivery noting that landlords are threatening to kick them out of their houses due to rent arrears.

Despite spending 11 months without pay, two sub county chairpersons of Bikoozi and Kijunjubwa were paid each salary  for 8 months.

John Kabihirwa the Bikoozi Sub County LC3 Chairperson disclosed that last week he received his pay for 8 months. He however wondered why he was paid part of his salary yet he is entitled to get salary for the 11 months he is demanding.

Mansur Bwohe the Kijunjubwa sub county LC3 Chairperson confirmed receiving pay for 8 months, he however wondered why he received part of his pay yet he entitled to get for 11 months.

‘’I’m wondering why others were not paid, and yet they are also demanding.’’

The Masindi district Council approved 300 million shillings for the newly created sub counties and the town councils.

According to the reliable sources, the LC3 Chairpersons will hold another meeting on Wednesday this week and if the district doesn’t act, they storm the district headquarters demanding for their pay.

Efforts to get a comment from Phiona Sanyu the Chief Administrative Officer was futile by press time since her known number wasn’t available.