By Cornes Lubangakene
HIGH Court judge Justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo has challenged district chairpersons in Acholi to guard against befriending civil servants if they are to win the battle against corruption and improve service delivery in their districts.
Owiny Dollo was recently giving a key note address during the award of the best performing districts and individuals in a ceremony organized by Uganda local government associations (ULGA) and the civil society organization, Action Aid international.
The function held at Bomah Hotel on Thursday last week drew participants from the seven Acholi districts plus Lango and West Nile sub regions. The event saw dedicated civil servants and politicians recognised for their performance in service deliveries.
“Be careful with being in friendship with civil servants while in office otherwise you will have failed in your work as a leader. It will not make us succeed in fighting corruption as you will not have any voice over them,” Owiny Dollo advised.
“You can mix anyhow with them (civil servants) at drinking places or outside the office not during working hours. If you begin to hear them saying ‘‘this chairman is good when he is outside but when he is in office, he becomes very difficult,’’ know that you have succeeded,” Owiny told the district chairpersons.
Owiny-Dollo advised the district chairpersons to try as much as possible to avoid the temptation of corruption to avoid being punished by voters in the next elections.
“So, ensure that you perform so that on the judgement day, you are judged correctly by the voters or else you will be kicked out. Guard against incompetence and negligence”.
The Acholi paramount chief Rwot David Onen Acana II said the elected leaders should ensure that they reconcile with their former rivals.
“We have heard so many unpleasing words and threats which some losing politicians said against the others. But I want to say that we should reconcile and work together because even those who failed can offer some advice to make us move positively,” Rwot Acana said.
The minister of state for local government Jennifer Namuyangu said the districts should form a consortium to help each other to improve service delivery and foster development in their districts.
