Joseph Ayolo, Moroto – The establishment of the Ministry of Water and Environment’s regional offices in Karamoja has not had a positive impact due to the continuous absenteeism of staff posted to head the offices.
According to anticorruption monitors in Moroto, the creation of the Ministry of Water and Environment’s regional office in Moroto for Karamoja was meant to bring services closer to the people of Karamoja. However, locals in the region have not felt any tangible impact from these offices.
Previously, Karamoja was under the Mbale regional office before it was separated.
John Munyes, one of the monitors, said that on several occasions they have made courtesy calls to the Ministry of Water offices, but they only encounter office attendants and junior staff, who also remain in the office throughout the day without going to the field.
According to Munyes, when the ministry officials are in their offices, they only work two days a week.
“They report for duty on Tuesday and work Wednesday and Thursday, but by Friday, they are already driving government cars with fuel back to their homes, and no work is done,” he said.
Jeremiah Louka, another concerned resident, said that the regional offices have only been accounting for old projects carried out during the time when First Lady Janet Museveni was Minister for Karamoja Affairs, with no new initiatives by the current staff.
“Karamoja has become a place where people request money for implementing Karamoja projects but divert it to their personal projects, doing just enough to justify their personal spending,” he said.
John Loupa, another resident, appealed to President Museveni to take a closer look at Karamoja projects, saying that most officials in the region work as though they are being paid by the opposition to undermine his NRM efforts in Karamoja.
Mr. Loupa pointed out the stalled Kakingol water project in Moroto District, which has failed to be completed five years down the line.
