Kamuli Labourers Threaten to Force Cao Out of Office

Andrew Gulumaire and Fred Siminyu

16 May 2011

Casual labourers in Kaliro have given the Chief Administrative Officer, Mr Peter Gahafu, until tomorrow to sort out their payment issues or they force him out office. Panic gripped Kaliro District headquarters when over 40 casual workers stormed the CAO’s office and threatened not to leave until he pays their money worth Shs12.8 million. The labourers claim the money are wages for services rendered to the district.

The workers’ chairperson, Mr Juma Zamukokola, told this paper that they signed an agreement with the district engineer, Mr Fred Matende, to open offshoots and clear roadsides of all feeder roads in the district, which they successfully did in January but that the district has turned a deaf ear to their claims for payment.

“We have been pestering the engineer to effect our payment since January in vain,” said Mr Zamukokola.

CAO promises

Efforts by Eng. Matende to calm the workers were futile as the angry workers demanded to meet the CAO to brief them on why their money has not been paid for four months now.

After consultations, Mr Gahafu met the workers and apologised over the delay in payment. “We are trying our level best to have your money paid as soon as possible,” he promised.

Mr Zamukokola later asked the group to calm down but gave the CAO a Tuesday deadline, beyond which labourers have said they will turn rowdy.

Meanwhile, outgoing LC3 chairpersons in Mayuge District have refused to return the motorcycles given to them by government while they were still in office.

The chairpersons said they have not been getting wages for the last seven months although they have all along tried to fill forms to reactivate their names on the payroll in vain.

Those who have refused to return the motorcycles include William Atube of Bukatube Sub-county, Jamiru Nzigu of Mpungwe Sub-county and Kasimu Katura of Bukaboli Sub-county.

District affected

Their defiance allegedly paralysed work in the office of the CAO for the entire Friday morning as the three chairmen sat in his office demanding payment.

The three men eventually emerged out of the CAO’s office but still obviously angry and vowing not to hand over the motorcycles until they are paid.

Mr Atube said the CAO had instructed them to unconditionally hand over the motorcycles and continue filling more forms for a salary reactivation.

He, however, said he was not handing over his motorcycle because the government had not paid him about Shs2 million in wages. The CAO. Ms Elizabeth Namanda, said only three out of the 13 chairpersons had refused to handover the motorcycles. She said she will arrest the stubborn former leaders or impound the motorcycle.

“Since these outgoing chairmen are no longer in office we are going to use the police and impound the motorcycles from them,” she said.

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