The Uganda Local Government Association (ULGA) has once again changed its leadership electing Napak LC5 Chairperson Joseph Lomonyang as the President of the Association.
Lomonyang was declared winner early this week after defeating Mityana district LC5 chairman Joseph Luzige with 140 votes against 123 votes during the 25th Annual General Meeting at Mt. Moroto hotel.
The other three candidates including the outgoing president as well as Lwengo district Chaiman George Mutabazi, Katakwi District Chairperson, Elakas Walter Okiring and Kabalore LC5 chairman Richard Rwabuhinga pulled out of the race at the last minute.
The other newly elected regional vice presidents are; Andrew Ssenyonga (Mukono LC5 chairman) for Buganda, Patrick Besigye Kaihwa (Kabale) for Western Uganda, Patrick Kayemba (Iganga) for Eastern region, James Leku for Northern region and Mark Abuku (Kaabong) for Karamoja region.
During the same retreat, the State Minister for Local Government, Jennifer Namuyangu Kacha appealed to the new leadership of Uganda Local Government Association to work towards thd unity of local government leaders in the country.
“We are know that leaders are selected by God, even before we started voting, God had already appointed them to lead. Can you now committee yourselves as leaders to make sure you work together as a team working for people who have elected you,” Namuyangu said.
She added that, “We assure you that we shall work with you since you are one of our own.”
On the other hand, ULGA leaders called on the government to take urgent steps to enhance the salaries of local government leaders especially technocrats to combat corruption and improve service delivery.
The call was made by the ULGA Secretary General, Gertrude Rose Gamwera who noted that despite a slight increment last year, the present pay of civil servants at the district level is still meagre.
She noted that the remuneration is not commensurate with the kind of services rendered by the officers citing that the Chief Administrative Officers (CAO) who are the accounting officers at the district manage huge budgets of billion of shillings but tempted with the little pay.
She added that government needs to fast-track the implementation of the salary review commission to do a holistic review of salaries for all civil servants to ensure fairness.