The concerns follow another demand notice by Eastern Auto Parts LTD Mbale to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Katakwi, Seraphine Alia, for the payment of 70.2 million Shillings as costs for the repair of district motor vehicles between 2016 and 2018.
Elakas had proposed Joseph Okiror Kedi, Jane Acam- Acayet and Margret Ajiro as members of Katakwi District Service Commission. But councilors noted that the proposed persons had blood relations with Elakas and his secretary, Obetel.
Seraphine Alia, the Katakwi Chief Administrative Officer, says all the technical staff posted to the new sub-counties, have been idle due to lack of money. He says the workers have been redeployed in their mother sub-counties as they wait for funds.
The residents are blaming the sub-county authorities for being behind the sale of the land that they said would have been saved for the proposed Toroma district and other government institutions.
Serephine Alia, the Chief Administrative Officer, says that the district has been relying on one ambulance of Usuk MP, Peter Ogwang to handle all the emergencies in the district, which overwhelmed its operations.
Moses Elungat, a resident of Ongongonja Sub County has asked government to come to their rescue by providing them with drugs, mosquito nets and education services for their children since the Karamojong who claim the contested land have evicted them.
The angry parents have threatened to withdraw all their children from the school if the head teacher, his deputy Andrew Ariko and Robert Ekau the school bursar are not transferred.
Francis Okwameri, the Katakwi District Speaker, says parliament often passes policies without consulting district council yet some of them contradict the operations of local governments.
Emmanuel Ekwith, the Katakwi District Forest Officer, says they have been conducting operations but those involved maneuver around the laws. Ekwith says some charcoal dealers have started sneaking out with charcoal at night.
The programme has been operational since 2016. However, due to the failed recovery of funding during the first year of implementing the programme, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development suspended funding in several districts citing misappropriation of the project funds officials or beneficiaries.
Walter Elakas Ekiring, the Katakwi District LC V Chairperson, says the Local Ministry halted the proposed creation of the two sub counties until the land dispute between the community in Magoro Sub County and Uganda Wildlife Authority is resolved.
Every day, more than 10 trucks loaded with more than 150 charcoal bags each leaves Katakwi district to various destinations. Most of these are destined for Soroti, Mbale, Jinja, Lira and Kampala districts. A bag of charcoal costs between 15,000 and 25,000 Shillings in Katakwi.
