Committee issues directive on appointment of Ntoroko District Service Commission

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Local Government has learnt that Ntoroko District has operated without a District Service Commission for the past one year leaving a vacuum that led to illegal recruitment of over 100 staff.

The unlawful recruitment has seen the Chief Administrative Officer, Anselem Kyaligonza interdicted alongside several other officers.

The committee chaired by Bardege-Layibi Division MP, Hon. Martin Ojara Mapenduzi tasked Ntoroko District Chairperson, Williams Kasoro to ensure that the commission is urgently appointed.
“Your district is most vulnerable; you are overwhelmed with refugees. How are you going to work without a service commission?” Mapenduzi asked.

Mapenduzi made this directive during the committee meeting with Ntoroko District leaders on Tuesday, 19 July 2022 over the Auditor General’s Report for financial year, 2020/2021.

He said the district leadership which is mandated with constitution of a commission was guilty of frustrating service delivery in the district. He wondered whether Kasoro was under intimidation that he would fail to appoint the five members.
“You look very much affected by politics of Ntoroko. Take charge, don’t allow the politics of Ntoroko to consume you; you are the political head of Ntoroko”, he said.

Kasoro reiterated that his district had been affected by both the COVID-19 lock down and quarantine due to the foot and mouth disease.
“We were sworn in 19  May 2021; we first had a meeting on 03 June and a week later, the country was put under lockdown. When it was lifted, Ntoroko had another ban on operations of livestock because of foot and mouth disease, so the council was not sitting,” said Kasoro.

He added that his council has however, been able to appoint only two people out of the five positions on the commission hoping that the next council meeting would complete the appointments.

Hon. Christine Apolot, (NRM, Kumi District) faulted Kasoro for acting with negligence saying that other districts made special requests from the Ministry of Local Government to hold special council meetings during the lock down.
“Many districts were writing to the Ministry of Local Government seeking special permission. I was also the district chairperson of Kumi and the minister Raphael Magyezi gave me that permission”, she said.

Hoima East County MP, Hon. Patrick Isingoma said he suspected conspiracy in the recruitment which could have delayed the appointment.
“You cannot say that there are no qualified people in Ntoroko; when even remote districts like Kaabong have fully constituted teams,” he said.

The committee will be visiting Ntoroko district to follow up on their directive and a number of queries raised in the Auditor General’s report.