Newslex Point News in Uganda, Uganda news
Ntungamo district chief administrative officer (CAO) Mathias Ndifuna is in trouble. This is after the public service ministry permanent secretary told him to clear the mess over the delayed civil servants’ salaries for December.
Ndifuna is locked in a dispute with permanent secretary Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwire after he issued a memo to district employees, informing them that the salary for December, will delay due to “delayed finalisation of the payment files by the ministry.”
In a letter, purportedly signed by the CAO dated December 19, 2023, Ndifuna assured them that they were on standby.
The moment the ministry sends the files, they will start paying immediately. This statements did not go well with the permanent secretary and district staff.
The district staff are confused and they now face the prospect of celebrating the festive season without their salaries.
In response, Bitarakwate quickly dismissed the allegations. She denounced them as baseless and insisting that they were unrelated to the ministry’s processes.
In her letter dated December 19, 2023, Bitarakwate refutes Ntungamo CAO’s claims. According to her, the ministry had completed the payment files by December 15, 2023, contrary to the allegations.
“This ministry has been brought to notice of a letter Ref: CR/115/1 dated December 19, 2023, circulating on social media in which you informed all employees of Ntungamo District Local Government that salary for December will be delayed due to the delayed finalisation of the payment files by the ministry of public service. Finalised payment files for Ntungamo district, like any other entity still on the integrated personnel and payroll system (IPPS) were sent to the IPPS/ Integrated Financial Management. Information System (IFMS) core funds transfer (FT) on the night of Friday 15 December 2023 and by 9:00 am of December 16, 2023, all sent payment files had been confirmed to have loaded on core ft. This was within the payroll cycle timelines communicated in Circular Letter No. 3 of 2022 issued by this ministry,” the letter partly reads.
To resolve the escalating tension, Bitarakwate requested the CAO to clear the impression created. This is especially among the staff of Ntungamo district Local government.
They claim the delay in payment of their salary was occasioned by the ministry. She directed the CAO to ensure that staff salaries are processed expeditiously without any further delay.
The letter also emphasizes the importance of utilizing technical staff from the Ministry of Public Service. This is in case of any technical challenges, rather than causing confusion and unnecessary alarm.
Check Also;
- Minister Suggests Investigation Into Ghost Water Project In Ntungamo
- Makerere University Staff Vow To Strike Over Delayed Promotions, Salary Increment
- Delay In Arts Teachers; Salaries Stirs Up Anger
Please use the button below to contribute to Newslex Point, Inc. using a credit card or via PayPal.
![[dropcap]A[/dropcap] section of women in Bugongo parish and Nawangaiza parish in Nawandala Sub County, Iganga District have decried the near-impossible terms set for them to access GROW funds. They have now petitioned their woman member of parliament for Iganga Hon. Kauma Sauda Alibaawo to ask the government for revised terms and conditions. This is to enable them to benefit from the program. The disgruntled women accuse the implementers of the program of charging the money. They are also asking for their land titles and land agreements. They said that such properties are governed by their husbands. These, therefore want the government through their woman MP to intervene and revise the requirements for one to benefit. The women were on Wednesday at Namabwere primary school in Nawandala Sub County. They had gathered in their respective groups to receive over 300 chickens from Hon Alibaawo in her campaign to improve the livelihood of women in Iganga district. Each group was given 50 chicken as start-up capital in their journey to prosperity. Read what some leaders said; Ms Naigambi Lydia from Nawandala Trading Centre says, “They solicited money from us through opening bank accounts and depositing Shs80,000. They also asked for land titles and land agreements from us yet we don’t have such things. I was informed that I needed to have a business with a capital of Shs4m yet my capital was very small.” The chairperson Kisoboka Saving Group in Nawandala Ms. Nakagolo Faith said they were not able to join the program. This is given the many conditions attached. She also asked their woman MP to raise their concerns to the relevant offices. The MP condemned the mode of implementation of the program. She cited that it has turned to benefit the well-off class of women other than the intended group. She further asked the government to intervene saying the current strings attached to the programme are very tight to accommodate a common woman. GROW project is a Government of Uganda initiative that arose out of the need to respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs. This is especially those who want to grow their businesses, sustain their self-employment and create more jobs. Check Also; Iganga District NRM Leaders Urge Museveni To Fulfill Election Promises Of 2021 International Women's Day: Celebrating Progress Towards Equality](https://i0.wp.com/newslexpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Iganga-women-decry-tough-terms-to-access-GROW-funds-e1731738339732.jpg?resize=300%2C160&ssl=1)
