Lira city East Division on tenterhooks after Arua fails to release transferred town clerk

By Denish Ongora (denish.ongora@vol.co.ug)

Lira

Lira city East Division is on tenterhooks after Arua Central Division refused to release the town clerk who had been transferred from there (Arua) to Lira city East Division by ministry of local government. 

On 25/08/2023, ministry of local government transferred Maliki Drakuma from Arua to Lira city to serve as Lira city division town clerk.

According to Daily West Nile, Arua Central Division council has rejected the transfer of Maliki due to his good track record.

The secretary finance and administration of Arua Central Division, Hamid Harib Salim said within only two months, Maliki had collected 42 million shillings in revenue but in the last they used to collect only 6 million shillings monthly, besides other commendable things that he has done for the division, something that left them admiring more of his service.

Lira city East Division expected Maliki to arrive last week but he did not and their accounts remain closed.

Lira city East division secretary for finance, Charles Opio Olol said they will go back to ministry of local government to act on the matter since the absence of the town clerk has frustrated implementation of projects like road works due to inaccessibility of their bank accounts.

Lira city East division councilors and leaders recently rejected Benard Apolo Opolot who was transferred to the division as town clerk over corruption allegations.

However, the town clerk of Lira city council made Opolot signatory to Lira city East division accounts.

Voice of Lango got unconfirmed reports that Lira city East Division mayor George Okello Ayo has written to the bank, stopping them from giving Opolot access to the division accounts.

Effort to speak to Lira City spokesperson Robert Okello Ayo on the matter was futile as he did not answer our calls.