Lamwo District Chairman Dismisses Executive Committee Members

The Lamwo District Chairperson John Ogwok Komakech has secretly fired two members of his executive.  

Members of the district council became suspicious after it emerged that on January 8, 2021, Ogwok wrote letters withdrawing appointments of two members of the District Executive Committee without notifying the council.   In the changes, Florence Atii, the female Councillor representing workers who initially was the Secretary for Production and Marketing and Fred Peter Erwono, the district youth Councillor who was the Secretary for Works and Technical Services, were both relieved of their duties.

Ogwok didn’t make any replacement.  Instead, he added assignments to two other members of the executive.  Francis Abonga Oyil who is currently the district Secretary for Health and Education will also take on the works docket, while Dorine Lakomekech, the District Vice-Chairperson and Secretary for Finance Planning and Administration will also handle Production and Marketing. 

But Florence Atii describes says that she has not received any communication about her dismissal, yet she keeps getting the same information from colleagues. She says the anomaly has since offered room for being erroneously invited to attend DEC business and draw salaries as a member of the executive since concerned stakeholders are not aware of her removal.    

//Cue in; “wa kombedi…

Cue out….lok dong tye”//

Peter Fred Erwono says the reshuffle is politically motivated and that the Chairperson could have acted out of anger since he rallied support for an opponent with whom Ogwok contested with for the Lamwo County parliamentary seat in the just concluded general elections. Erwono was the campaign manager for the newly elected Member of Parliament Dr Anthony Aabuka and there was no way he could support another candidate.

The Councilor representing Lokung Sub County David Ocan Kasisi said the process was flawed since the Chairperson acted secretly without presenting any new nominees before the council for approval. Ocan says the situation is complicated by the fact that the new and additional assignments have instead overwhelmed the two other members yet he should have instituted and offered assignments to a four members committee as required by the law. 

According to Ocan, section 16 (2) of the Local Government Act stipulates that the District Executive Committee shall consist of A chairperson, the vice chairperson and not more than five secretaries.

//Cue in; “executives wek obed…

Cue out….woko ata.”//

Jennifer Anek, the Councillor representing Padibe Town Council says the move is intended to selfishly reward councillors who are loyal to the political head and exhibiting double standards since the two secretaries will be entitled to draw salaries twice for holding double assignments.

But Ogwok told URN in an interview that the reshuffle was a normal process. He says he never acted out of anger as stated, adding that those are baseless accusations instigated by councillors opposed to his move.

//Cue in; “gin ma dong…

Cue out….pa council.”//