During a council meeting held on Thursday, the councillors expressed concern about the delayed recruitment of parish chiefs, which could affect the program. They argued that the parish chiefs should have been recruited by October 30.
The absence of a district service commission is delaying the recruitment
of parish chiefs to implement the Parish Development Model.
The Parish Development Model is a government strategy that seeks
to organize and deliver public and private sector interventions for wealth
creation and employment generation at the parish level as the lowest economic
planning unit.
During a council meeting held on Thursday, the councillors
expressed concern about the delayed recruitment of parish chiefs, which could
affect the program. They argued that the parish chiefs should have been
recruited by October 30.
The councillor LCV representing Labongo Akwang Sub County Bosco
Oketayot also expressed concerns on the disparities in the number of parish
chiefs earmarked for recruitment in the entire district saying the required
number was at 32 but only 26 slots had been advertised.
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The female district councillor representing the youth Jackeline
Anek reiterated the delays in recruitment of parish chiefs saying they were
overwhelmed by queries from the members of the public. Anek also says that despite having advertised
for 26 slots for the parish chief and town agents, the figure was not
commensurate to cater for the over 70 available parishes in the entire
district.
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The Kitgum LCV Chairperson Christopher Obol Arwai attributed the
delays in recruitment of parish chiefs to the lack of a functional district
service commission following the expiry of the term of service of the previous
members. Arwai says that the members of the district service commission
were nominated by the previous council and their particulars were subsequently
submitted to the Public Service Commission which has not yet approved the
names.
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recruitment….
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William Komakech, the Kitgum Resident District Commissioner said
that unspecified amounts of funds disbursed by the government are lying idle
and unspent due to delays in recruitment of the parish chiefs.
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The District Chief Administrative Officer Martin Jacan Gwoktoo
admits that they won’t be able to meet the stipulated deadline of October 30 deadline.
He however adds that there are plans to hire services of the district service
commission from the neighbouring districts.
Dan Michael Komakech
Freelancer
