Dr. Omona the state Minister of Northern Uganda. Photo by Simon Wokorach
By Simon Wokorach
Gulu: The State Minister of Northern Uganda Dr. Kenneth Omona has warned of uncoordinated transfers of the Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) done without the knowledge of the president.
Addressing the gathering in Gulu over the weekend, Dr. Omona told Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, that some people are causing the transfer of the Resident District Commissioners.
“Rt. Hon Prime Minister, I have one big problem which I have experienced with the RDCs in this region. I have spoken to many but our RDCs are threatened by some people in Kampala,” Omona said.
Citing the recent incident in Lamwo, Dr. Omona noted that the RDC, Geoffrey Osborn Oceng, was threatened by the Commissioner of Equal Opportunity Commission, for attempting to settle a land conflict involving residents in his area.
“There are two characters who don’t work in the Office of the President and they aren’t staff there. One is the Commissioner of the Equal Opportunity Commission and another one is a staff in the State House,” he added.
Dr. Omona further noted that such threats are causing panic among the RDCs, who now pay more allegiance to such people than the appointing authority.
“I’m sure we all heard the President complaining about who is transferring my RDCs which is not me. Omona quoted the President. Does the opening of land boundaries become the issue of the Equal Opportunity Commission?” Dr. Omona asked.
He further noted that when Commissioner Equal Opportunity Commission whom he did not name told Mr. Oceng that he would not take four days in Lamwo because he failed to listen to him.
Dr. Omona said such threats embarrass the government and affect the confidence of the RDCs in monitoring government projects and supporting development initiatives.
He however noted that, as the Minister, he would not hesitate to arrest such people in his area of administration adding that the irregular transfer of RDCs must stop.
“This week I saw a letter asking Commissioner Oceng to write a statement that he is indiscipline for having not listened to the Commissioner Equal Opportunity Commission. As Minister, I can let those people go back in handcuffs. This must stop,” Dr. Omona warned.
The Deputy RDC of Lamwo District, Sebestian Oguti, also the Dean RDCs in Uganda acknowledged the gaps created in service delivery with untimely transfers of his colleagues.
Oguti argued that unplanned transfers affect RDCs because they have to take time to understand the dynamics of their new environments, hence distorting service delivery.
Oguti noted that the power for transferring the RDCs is vested upon the President, who is the appointing authority and he does so only in consultation and coordination with the Ministry of Presidency.
When contacted, Musema Miragi, a Senior Counsel with the Equal Opportunity Commission said he could not respond to the matter without a clear picture of what transpired.
“The Equal Opportunity Commission is a government entity with five Boards of Commissioners. The Minister is not clear on which Commissioner went to Lamwo. We can only follow up on this case when he comes out clearly to tell us what happened and on which date,” Counsel Musema responded.
