Summary:
- According to Katamba, many occurrences in sub-counties remain unreported by GISOs and PISOs, who are responsible for investigating and reporting civil servants and PDM officers involved in extorting money from the PDM program designed to improve people’s lives.
KATAKWI: Rt. Maj. Godfrey Katamba, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Katakwi, has threatened to arrest Gombolola Internal Security Officers (GISOs) and Parish Internal Security Officers (PISOs) who fail to report incidents of corruption in their respective sub-counties and parishes.
The RDC Katamba made this pronouncement in response to several recent corruption cases, including an incident involving Kaikamosing parish chief Helen Abilu, who instructed a beneficiary of the Parish Development Model (PDM) to ship 1,000 hips of potatoes to qualify for assistance.
Ongongoja LC3 William Omeke and David Amanu of Olupe were arrested for their alleged involvement in cattle theft, incidents that Katamba claims were never reported by the GISOs or PISOs but were instead brought to light by whistleblowers.
According to Katamba, many occurrences in sub-counties remain unreported by GISOs and PISOs, who are responsible for investigating and reporting civil servants and PDM officers involved in extorting money from the PDM program designed to improve people’s lives.
The district head of security has also directed GISOs and PISOs to compile a list of Karimojong cattle collaborators and submit it to the district security committee for appropriate action. Furthermore, Katamba challenged them to monitor government programs and projects, emphasizing that these initiatives fall under the purview of the president, who is responsible for overseeing such programs within their jurisdictions.
“The office of the RDC in Katakwi has made several attempts to address the incompetence of civil servants in response to community concerns, but lower levels of government have not fulfilled their duties,” he stated.
Katamba revealed this information during a meeting in his office on Monday, September 30, 2024, following numerous complaints from locals regarding the ineffectiveness of individual government workers.
Vincent Saviour Okwi highlighted that PISOs and GISOs play a critical role in gathering security intelligence, reporting wrongdoing, and monitoring government initiatives.
However, Simon Okwaput, a PISO for Akoboi in Omodoi Sub County, along with DISO Ngariam, expressed concerns about the government’s failure to issue identification cards or formal appointments to some officers.
Hon. Geoffrey Omolo, the LCV of Katakwi district, urged government entities to fulfill their responsibilities to reduce complaints from the community.
