The permanent secretary Ministry of Local Government, Patrick Bitabire, has quashed the appointment of James Okello P’Okidi as the acting Chief Administrative Officer for Kitgum district.
The ministry has also endorsed the appointment of David Kawooya as the acting CAO and the substantive deputy CAO of Kitgum district.
Okello was appointed as the acting CAO three weeks ago after the executive committee led by Luka Nyeko, the LC5 chairperson reject David Kawooya.
Last week the district council chaired by Emmanuel Latiem, the deputy speaker, passed a resolution rejecting Kawooya and appointing Okello to act as the CAO. Some councilors, however, protested the move arguing that it was illegal for the executive to appoint an accounting officer. They noted that it is the responsibility of the central government to appoint the CAO and the deputy.
Now the permanent secretary has also called the decision to appoint a caretaker CAO illegal. Bitabire says David Kawooya still remains CAO adding that it is not the responsibility of the district to appoint the accounting officer.
Bitabire also accuses the district executive of disobeying the directives of the local government minister, Adolf Mwesige, who advised the district to accord the necessary cooperation to work with the new CAO.
Cue in: “appointment and deployment…”
Cue out: “…we will sort that one out”
He says they have held discussions with the district leadership and the issue shall be sorted out soon. He, however, warned the district leadership to desist from engaging in making appointments that are reserved for the central government.
Despite the directive by the ministry, Kitgum district executive is determined to kick Kawooya out of the district.
On Thursday last week, the district chairperson, Luka Nyeko, wrote a letter to the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Local Government rejecting the posting of David Kawooya. In the letter, dated March 2nd 2012, the chairperson claims that the district council had unanimously rejected the appointment of the CAO.
In the letter, the chairperson refuses to be Kawooya’s supervisor and requests the ministry to identify another officer.
The letter is, however, likely to pile pressure on Nyeko as there was no motion moved in last week’s council session to reject the appointment.
The councilors agreed that Kawooya must come back as acting CAO. The question that led to disagreement between councilors and the executive was whether the position of acting CAO should be given to Rhoda Oroma, the assistant CAO in charge of Cwa County, or James Okello Okello P’Okidi as David Kawooya issue is sorted out.
