An induction meeting for district councilors in Kabarole ended yesterday with drama when councilors rejected shillings 10,000 that was budget for their allowance. It was organized by the district personnel officer and chief administrative officer to sensitize the councilors on procurement and ensuring value for money at St. Joseph’s Inn Virika in Fort Portal.
All went well until when, Christine Kiseko, the facilitator of the training told councilors to pick up their 10,000 shillings allowances as they hand over their evaluation forms. The councilors laughed off Kiseko and accused her of trying to cheat them. They tasked Kiseko to show them the budget of the induction seminar in vain.
They told Kiseko that they are not kids who should be deceived with shillings 10,000 that is not even enough for their transport. The councilors stormed out of the meeting hall abandoning the evening tea and snacks that had been prepared for them. They went away with the filled evaluation forms and refused to hand them over to the facilitators.
Jorum Bintamanya, the councilor representing East division said it was unfair for the councilors to spend the entire day and only receive an allowance of shillings 10,000. However, Kiseko denied any wrong doing saying that only shillings 10,000 was budgeted for by the district for the induction training.
Earlier on, the councilors had accused the district technical staff and members of the district executive for dodging the induction meeting. John Kyaligonza, the councilor representing Kibiito town council accused the district leadership of wasting tax payer’s money on workshops, which are not attended by the concerned officials.
He asked the facilitators to post pond the Induction to another day instead of misusing the funds in terms of food, drinks and hiring the room. However, after exchange the councilors agreed to proceed with the training and vowed to take action against the concerned officials. But Richard Rwabuhinga, the LC V chairman explains that they didn’t show up for the induction because they were busy preparing the district budget.
He also blamed the technocrats for the bad image they showed to the councilors by not turning up for the training. The chairman says the district is tired of shoddy works and corruption by the technical staff.
