Residents protest shift of head office

At least 1,000 residents of Binyiny Town Council in Kween District on Monday blocked Kween-Bukwo highway for close to four hours, protesting plans to relocate the district headquarters.
Business came to a standstill as armed police officers, led by the Resident District Commissioner, Mr Joseph Okwakao, tried to calm down residents.

The group, which started the demonstration at about 8am, said they would not accept the relocation of the headquarters to Kaproron, arguing that Binyiny was approved by the council last year.
They waved placards reading: “We cannot have two district headquarters. Away with plans of dividing the people.”

The protest follows a decision by the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Michael Nandala, and the LC5 council speaker, Ms Joseline Cherot, to implement the resolution to transfer the district departments.

A January 4 letter seen by the Daily Monitor and signed by Mr Nandala, says following an extra-ordinary council sitting, it was resolved to shift the headquarters.

“The purpose of this communication is, therefore, to bring to the attention of heads of departments and their secretaries about the council resolution and at the same time implement the resolution,” reads the letter in part.

Mr Solmon Cherop, the Binyiny LC5 councillor, said although they had discussed the resolution, they disagreed, and that it was wrong for the CAO to rush with implementation.

“True, we discussed but there are no facilities at Kaproron. The distance is about 10 kilometres on a very bad road. There is no network and no vehicles to transport the supervisors.

It will be difficult to supervise the departments for effective service delivery,” Mr Cherop said.
Mr Charles Kamuron, a protester, accused the leaders of failing to provide effective services.
He claimed the leadership never consulted them on the proposed transfer.

Mr Okwakao urged residents to remain come, saying they would sort out the matter.