By URN
Residents of Kakumiro district have blamed poor service delivery in the area on civil servants who abscond from duty.
The residents particularly accused staff from the education and health departments as well as the Sub County and Parish Chiefs who are found of absenteeism hence crippling service delivery in the area.
According to the residents, most health workers and teachers in the district abscond from duty and those who manage to attend come late for work.
They further explain that most Sub County headquarters have been abandoned while offices are left open in other sub-counties with no staff to attend to the needs of the residents.
Joseph Kasibante, a resident of Kijangi sub-county explains that gross absenteeism by the duty bearers is to blame for poor Service delivery in the district.
Rose Kyaligonza, a resident of Kisiita town council wonders why the district is wasting resources to pay the civil servants yet there is not much work being executed by them.
She wants civil servants in the district to be closely monitored and supervised for effective service delivery to be offered to the citizens.
Joseph Balikuddembe, a resident of Kakumiro town council reports that incidences of staff absconding from duty are high which he says is denying service delivery to them.
Dovicko Baguma, a resident of Businge village in Kijangi sub-county says, that recently he visited the office of the sub-county chief seeking services but he was surprised to find the office opened but with no staff attending to residents the whole day.
Jackline Alinda, a resident of Mataale sub county explains that, at most health facilities, workers are absent and that patients are forced to spend the whole day waiting for service delivery which they sometimes do not get due to the absence of health workers.
She faults the office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for not supervising and prevailing over staff who abscond from duty.
Peter Erisu, the Kakumiro Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) says, that currently, his office is undertaking stern disciplinary actions against staff who absconded from duty adding that most of the staff are under investigation.
Erisu says, his office has written to some of the civil servants demanding an explanation of the concerns raised by the residents.
Victoria Mirembe Tindifa, the supervisor of advocacy and capacity building at the Inspectorate (IG) who is in Kakumiro to monitor the implementation of government programs and service delivery says, their office is investigating several civil servants in the district for absenteeism and late coming adding that, appropriate disciplinary action would be taken against those found guilty once the investigation is done.
According to the Public Service Standing Orders 2010, the roles, obligations, and conduct of a public officer stipulate that government official working hours are Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m.
The Public Service Standing Orders further require an officer to adhere to the Code of Conduct and Ethics for the Public Service.
