Ntungamo CAO given 15 day ultimatum to pay off workers

By Arinda Nsheeka Wilfred

The Ntungamo district workers led by their political leaders have issued the chief administrative officer (CAO) Kweyamba Ruhemba a 15-day ultimatum to pay their salaries and wages short of which they will lay down their tools.

This follows a consultative meeting last week conducted by chairman LCV Ntungamo District Denis Singahache in which they resolved their salaries must be paid before 15^th September 2018 to enable them cater for their families and service loans from banks.

Singhahache addressing aggrieved local council three chairpersons for sub counties, sub county chiefs and Town councils in a meeting held at Ntungamo district council hall revealed that CAO Ruhemba told them that changing from tier two to one system has caused the delay in payment.

But Singahache rejected the excuse saying that it is too much for the civil servant to spend two-three months without pay yet they have children at schools and some are servicing bank loans.

The decision comes days after civil servants in Ntungamo district went on peaceful demonstration over delay of salaries and poor working conditions leaving their working stations un attended to.

 “We sat here in district council with mr. Ruhemba, he told us that some technical issues like changing the payment system has caused the delay but we were not satisfied with his explanation and now we resolved to give him an ultimatum of two weeks up to September, 15^th 2018 to have paid all workers in the district including pensioners,” he said.

He noted that after the two weeks ultimatum is over the district authorities will compel him to explain as they petition the permanent secretaries in the ministry of local government and finance for clarification.

Ntungamo district has over 4500 workers including pensioners but quarter of them is only ones that have been paid so far.

Speaking to Muhumuza Denis Savimbi the Itojo sub county noted that they spent three months without pay which renders them helpless concerning their day to day duties.

However, the chief administrative officer (CAO) Kweyamba Ruhemba told them to be patient as they rectify their salaries very soon saying that some workers were lacking bio data including TIN, and NIN among others.