MBALE – LCV chairpersons in Eastern Uganda, on Tuesday, took advantage of the burial of their colleague, Moses Olemukan, the former Bukedea district head, to demand for an increment of their monthly salary, in addition to improving their working conditions.
The Chairpersons contend that despite carrying bigger responsibilities in terms of coverage and implementation of the government programs, their pay checks were miserable – compared to Uganda’s members of parliament. The LCV bosses lamented how they were least considered when it came to facilitation and remuneration.
Stephen Ochola, the Serere LCV chair, who doubles as the team leader for the Teso sub region district bosses, revealed that the government was paying them a pantry basic salary of Ugx2m compared to MPs’ take home of more than Ugx10m – yet their workload was much bigger in terms of percentage.
The MPs get a gross pay of Ugx11m in addition to allowances in plenary and committee sittings; mileage; and other work-related travels.
According to Ochola, the LCV chairs are now struggling for vehicles allocated to Chief Administrative Officers – CAOs and departments in the district to do their work.
He said government should be honest in its allocations – provide them with health insurance; good salary; transport; and pension for those who are re-elected to office for two consecutive terms like it is for MPs.
In 2012, the LCV chairpersons demanded a pay rise of at least Ugx8m per month to help improve service delivery in the districts.
Evelyn Chebet Kubalika, the Kapchorwa LCV chair, who doubles as the Vice chairperson of the Uganda Local Government Association – ULGA in Eastern Uganda, said the burial of their Bukedea colleague had presented the best audience for them to table their grievances – because on many occasions the executive had denied them the chance.
The line minister, Raphael Magezi, who was in attendance calmed the grieving chairpersons, saying that government was working on their issue. He didn’t elaborate.
Besides the LCV chairs, other local government leaders had also voiced similar concerns over their emolument and facilitation in the past.
Currently, a sub-county chairperson earns a monthly pay of Ugx420, 000 while LC1s are entitled to Ugx10, 000, which pay, in most cases is delayed up to over a year.
According to the local government leaders, the poor remuneration and facilitation have hindered the monitoring of the district projects.
