Moroto district had invited applications from qualified Ugandans in February to fill 16 vacant positions in the district. But before the recruitment process fell through, a lockdown was imposed.
Moroto Chief Administrative Officer, Charles Kumakech Olubo, says the sanctions and rewards committee of the District and Management will recognize the health workers as routine motivation in Public Service.
Nakalema noted that her visit was informed by several complaints especially regarding issues at Moroto Regional Referral Hospital and boreholes that were allegedly not drilled. Other concerns were illegal recruitment of staff, misplaced priorities affecting smooth operations in the hospital and procurement-related issues.
Tension was already high by Monday evening when official communication came in indicating that the team would be meeting Moroto District Officials today. By 12:30pm, Moroto Chamber Hall, the venue for the meeting was almost empty as officers scattered to make consultations in small groups of three to five people.
Kenyatta and his host Yoweri Museveni will be in Moroto to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on cross border integrated programs for sustainable and socio-economic transformation of Karamoja, Turkana and Pokot communities.
The market was under Nadunget Sub County until April, this year, when the Local Government Ministry merged 20 new villages from the neighbouring sub-counties with the municipality. However, the two sub-counties had earlier agreed to allow the operations of the market to continue in the same location pending council resolutions.
The two communities have been fighting over the administrative boundary since 2002 when mining activities commenced in Moroto. The contested areas include Rata village which is a base for DAO Marble Limited and Musupo and Nakiloro parishes which have vast mineral deposits especially marble, limestone and gold.
On Friday, John Vianney Lutaaya, the Principal Staff Surveyor in the Lands Ministry who accompanied the minister to the dialogue, said they were planning to travel to Moroto. Without divulging more, the officer said he would explain all the delays on arrival to Moroto.
The contenders include incumbent George Mutabaazi, the chairperson of Lwengo district, Mityana district chairperson Joseph Luzige, Kabarole District chairperson Richard Rwabuhinga, Katakwis Walter Elakas Okiring and Joseph Lomonyang, the chairperson of Napak district.
While the national average fertility rate stands at 5.4 percent, the levels in Karamoja are higher with 7.9 percent. The report shared by United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA with the regional leaders on Thursday shows that majority of the population in Karamoja are children with a average age of 15 years.
At Lokisile village in Rupa Sub County, Moroto district, both herdsmen from the area and Turkana pastoralists share water with animals at the dam, which is the only water source. The residents use the contaminated water for drinking, bathing and other domestic needs.
In Nakapiripirit, officers say they last received pay slips in 2016. Jane Asege, a health worker in Nakapiripirit says they are at the mercy of their bosses since they dont know how much money they are supposed to get.
Most of the mining activities are done by school going children. At the mining sites, some children have developed health complications including permanent injuries while conducting the mining activities.
The items include 16 motor vehicles, 12 motorcycles, Radio call units, Desktop computers, filing cabinets and Diesel engine generator. Others are Laserjet printers and a photocopying machine.
Jagdish Koonjul, the president of the UN executive board acknowledged the challenges of climate change that have affected the region and urged for the ownership of all UN interventions.
In 2014/2015 financial year, Moroto had only two percent of the households with pit latrines. The district only added 1.2 percent in 2015/2016 financial year. However, in the 2016/2017 financial year, Moroto has been able to reach 15.6 percent in pit latrine coverage.
Mohamed Satti, the head of UN World Food Program also assigned to coordinate the UN agencies in Karamoja asked partners to consider the concerns raised by the district authorities.
