Moroto, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A section of local leaders in Karamoja want resources for Karamoja Ministry channeled through the district local government.
The move is aimed at ensuring full utilization of resources if development is to be realized in the sub region. The leaders also stressed that there is no relevance of the Karamoja Ministry to the people, instead it is used for self-interest.
Paul Lokol, the LCV Chairperson of Nabilatuk questioned the activities carried out by the ministry alleging that there has been no tangible results on the ground.
Lokol urged the government to consider channeling the funds to the local governments so that it is used for intended purpose and to cut other unnecessary costs.
He noted that the region is still grappling with several challenges which they thought their ministry could have helped in advocating for good services.
Lokol also rejected the proposal to have the Karamoja Development Agency revived to replace the Karamoja Ministry. He said that the agency had irregularities which frustrated most of the government programs.
Joseph Lobot, the LCV Chairperson of Amudat said that resources have been injected into the ministry but there are no results on the ground.
Lobot said they cannot host a ministry that works in isolation and does not want to coordinate with area local leadership for the betterment of the region.
He said the ministry was supposed to have a coordination role on the issues of education, water, roads and health among others, but unfortunately nothing was done.
Lobot noted that the Karamoja ministry was created to sustain people in the ministerial position and not to serve its purpose.
John Bosco Akore, the Secretary Kotido Elder’s Council appealed to the government to channel the resources meant for the ministry to the district if they are willing to help the Karamojong people.
However, Remigio Achia, the Chairperson of Karamoja Parliamentary Group said that the region deserves its own Ministry but appealed for the revival of Karamoja Development Agency- KDA for proper coordination.
The Karamoja Development Agency was started by an act of parliament in 1987 to implement affirmative action for the Karamoja sub region. The Agency was later replaced with the Ministry for Karamoja Affairs which is now responsible for the coordination of all government programs in the region.
Achia noted that the Agency would be aligned with the works of the Karamoja ministry that will report to parliament and cabinet.
Achia urged the appointing authority to consider appointing the leaders within the region to lead the Ministry.
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