Locals fault EC over delayed election

Residents and local leaders in the newly-created Butebo District have accused the Electoral Commission (EC) of failing to conduct the election for the district chairperson.
Mr Erisam Dongo, the Kaginima Sub-county councillor, said this has paralysed the smooth running and implementation of government programmes in the area.

“Other new districts elected their leaders but for us, the EC is not specific and yet this has continued to affect the smooth running of government programmes in the district,” he said.
Mr Dongo explained that the issues affecting the district need intervention from the President.
“We call upon the President to intervene,” he said.

Mr Siraji Osuge, the councillor representing Petete Sub-county, said the essence of creating the district is becoming useless to the residents. “We do not understand why the government created this district and it’s not helping us,” he said.
Butebo was created on July 1, 2017, but has since been embroiled in administrative wrangles after two sub-counties of Opwateta and Kibale opted to remain under Pallisa District.
Mr John Mbiro, a resident, said the continued impasse has affected service delivery due to lack of political supervision and monitoring, budget reviews and work plans.

Administrative issues
However, the EC spokesperson, Mr Jotham Taremwa, told Daily Monitor by telephone yesterday, that they are waiting for the district leaders to solve their administrative issues before they set the date for the elections.
“We cannot conduct election in an area where there are unresolved issues,” he said.

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