The Gulu district Chairman Martin Ojara Mapenduzi on Monday blasted the district Commercial Officer, Ronald Okumu, for sleeping on the job.
Mapenduzi during a workshop at Kakanyero hotel said micro finance institutions are engaged in fraud, with the commercial officer doing little to help out.
“On a daily basis many people come to my office crying explaining how their money has been swindled by money lenders,” said Mapenduzi.
Mapenduzi said the district Commercial Officer should wake up and begin performing his duties.
“They are stealing Sacco money and you are just keeping quiet. What is your role then? You are not performing. You should wake up.”
It is unclear if the regulation of micro finance institutions in a local government setting is under the docket of the Commercial Officer.
The Gulu Chairman claimed that several people have had their money swindled by fraudulent money lenders but the commercial officer has not made any statement over the matter.
According to Mapenduzi, microfinance organisations have vanished with over 800 million shillings from residents of Gulu. But despite that, Mapenduzi said, the commercial officer has been quite.
“Me as the Gulu district boss I am very much worried because you [Commercial Officer] has not made statement about the money swindled from Sacco’s groups. I do not know whether you are part of them or not.”
The Gulu district commercial officer, Ronald Okumu, who was at the same workshop did not directly respond to the Chairman when it was his time to speak. But he instead urged SACCO’s to hold their Annual General Meetings (AGM).
Although the Chairman is the political head in the district he is not in the strict sense the supervisor of technocrats– that role falls under the docket of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)– who is the topmost technocrat in a district.
