The Minister for Local Government, Raphael Magyezi, has cautioned
LCI chairpersons against misusing the new stamps that are being given out
countrywide.
While officiating at the handover ceremony of the new stamps at Kabarole
district headquarters on Thursday, Magyezi said that earlier on, LCIs had
received stamps that were not uniform and easy to forge, adding that these
flaws have been addressed.
At an event that was attended by the local council and district leaders from
Rwenzori Sub-region, he explained that the new stamps are coded with security
features and if misused, the chairpersons will be solely responsible.
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Magyezi asked the Chief Administrative Officers – CAOs from the Sub-region to
facilitate village meetings to ensure the LC 1 chairpersons in their respective
districts declare the new stamps to their electorate.
He also directed that before receiving the new stamps, village chairpersons
must the first handover the old ones to their respective Resident District
Commissioners - RDCs.
The Kabarole Resident District Commissioner, Sarah Julian Ayesiga, noted that
some village chairpersons have been abetting livestock theft in the Sub-region
by stamping on permits of the thieves without even verifying the origin of the
animals.
Ayesiga added that on several occasions, they have arrested suspected livestock
thieves and village chairpersons have always pleaded for their release, arguing
that they are innocent.
This, the RDC said, must stop with immediate effect now that better stamps are
being given to them.
Richard Rwabuhinga, the Kabarole LCV Chairperson, expressed displeasure with
the little remuneration of the local council leaders especially LCIs, saying
the 120,000 shillings they receive annually is not commensurate with their workload.
He asked the minister to consider a pay raise for them so that they
can be motivated to work diligently.
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In Arua, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Local Government Ben
Kumumanya that appropriate action will be taken against LCs who will misuse the
official stamps.
According to Kumumanya, the stamps will help build and sustain the capacity of
local governments and administrative units to perform better.
Jimmy Tekwo the LCI Chairperson for Arua CPS says that the new
stamps will address the numerous challenges of forgeries.
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