In a consultative meeting meant for monitoring government programs held at her residence in Lira City East Division, at Senior Quarters ‘A’, Honorable Minister for Gender, Labour, and Social Development, Amongi Betty Akena, appreciated the local council chairpersons for turning up in great numbers.
Mr. Luto Albert, the LC1 chairperson of Senior Quarters ‘A’, commended the Minister for summoning all the LC1s to sensitize them on government programs in line with the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development policies.
The Member of Parliament for Lira City East Division, Honorable Michael Jimmy Akena Obote (UPC Party President), who is also the husband of Minister Amongi Betty, welcomed the delegation of LC1s to his residence at Senior Quarters ‘A’ and assured them of their security and safety. “Mine is not to quarrel but to facilitate your safe stay in this area for Lira City; therefore, feel at home,” said Akena Jimmy.
While addressing the gathering of the local council leaders, Minister Amongi Betty Akena enlightened the LCs about the presidential initiative of commercial agriculture. She tasked LC1s and LC2s to embrace coffee growing, matoke, tea growing, among others, as far as wealth creation is concerned.
Outlining their demand, Atuku Tracy, one of the LCs from City East Division, said there is a lot of corruption making the community not benefit the Wanahinci on the ground. “Government should cancel the issue of fruit growing but bring back the issue of restocking,” said Tracy.
Bicycle repairs, tour requests, and revising the salary of LCs were key among other burning issues that were raised by many LCs. Minister Amongi narrated that soybean, sunflower, and maize on a small scale are the most known crops grown in Lango sub-region on a large scale; however, better commercial crops like coffee should also be grown to get a higher yield or reduce poverty.
Above all, she noted that the government at the moment is injecting a huge sum of money into various projects to benefit the Wanahinci.
Okullo Ahali, the chairperson of all the LC1s in Lira City West Division, tasked the minister to request the government to reduce school fees, with 25 percent of local council payments to be addressed as one of the key issues affecting local council chairpersons in Lira City.
Notably, the 20 percent being charged by money lenders, whereby the interest is too high, and unanimously LCs had complaints about the rate of money lenders’ interest rate being too high for the local business people who have been obtaining the loan. They now want the money lenders to be regulated as far as high-interest rates are concerned.
Many of them who spoke before the minister complained about it as unfavorable to the common business persons in their respective cells/wards. Local Council 1 and 2 are at security risk from some hardcore criminals; therefore, the government should train them with security skills, according to Okullu.
Okullu blamed some leaders who are at higher ranks in Lira City for overlooking them. “We, the Local Council One and Two, therefore request you to support us in our SACCOs.”
Hon. Betty Amongi tasked them to come up with a better project that the government of Uganda can support them financially, and more so in a group. Meanwhile, Hon. Minister Amongi pledged 10 Million Shillings each for the Local Council SACCOs of Lira City West Division and Lira City East, respectively.
There are about 293 Local Council chairpersons in Lira City.
