Pressure is mounting on Pader Chief Administrative Officer Grandfield Oryono Omonda to quit officer for alleged corruption and failure to implement lawful council resolution. Councilors accuse Omonda of disobedience, corruption and diversion of council funds to his private activities. On Monday, Francis Toolit the representative of Acholi-bur sub-county tabled a motion before the council to kick out Omonda.
In the petition, Omonda is accused of diverting shillings 120 million they received as graduate tax compensation for the 3rd and 4th quarter and causing double deduction of shillings 203 million from NUSAF funds by URA to pay off unknown debts. Toolit also accuses the CAO of refusing to implement council resolution, and implementing the cost of repairing the LC V chairperson from shillings 200,000 to 1.7 million shillings and claiming allowances whenever he travels to his home in Abim district.
Several councilors have thrown their weight behind the motion accusing the CAO of enriching himself at the expense of the district. Patrick Obua, the councilor Puranga sub-county says he supports the motion because all the allegations against the CAO are true. He accuses the CAO of forging trips to Kampala yet he ends up in his village. He calls on the CAO to return all the funds he has swindled from the district immediately.
Robert Komakech Obina, the speaker Pader district council has asked the Omonda to defend himself against the allegations and deferred the matter to the next council sitting. He has also warned the councilors against rushing the decision to remove the CAO saying that due diligence must be followed. However, the decision by the speaker to defer the motion has not gone down well with several councilors.
Kennedy Akena Kijumi, the councilor for Ogom sub-county and his counterpart Wellborn Ottober Odia, the council for Laguti sub-county accuse the district speaker of being an ally of the CAO. They challenge the speaker to quote a specific law that prevents the district council from discussing any private member’s motion tabled before council. But Komakech explains the allegations labeled against the speaker saying that he needs to be given time to prepare and present his defense. He says that motion will be debated in the next council session. The Chief Administrative Officer, Oryonon Grandfield Omonda and District chairman and Alfred Akena have refused to comment on the matter saying it is too early for them.
