The Resident District Commissioner and LCV Chairperson of Pader District have locked horns in a bitter fight of counter-accusations over corruption and poor service delivery.
The leaders took their fight public on Tuesday when Rtd. Col. Fearless Obwoya demanded Statehouse officials intervene and sack the RDC, Milton Odongo.
Speaking on Tuesday at the graduation of students who completed a five-month vocational skilling course at Acholi Zonal Hub in Gulu District, Obwoya openly accused his rival of divisionism and frustrating development.
He told State House Comptroller Jane Baryeke, who was the Chief Guest, that Odongo had caused disunity in the district, making it impossible for leaders to work, and asked that the State House intervene.
Obwoya told Uganda Radio Network in an interview on Wednesday that Odongo has refused to embrace teamwork ever since he was posted to the district and has created cliques among political leaders and civil servants.
He also alleged Odongo has worked tirelessly to cover up corrupt officers, citing a retired primary school teacher whose salary arrears worth 17 million shillings were swindled by civil servants in the district who were shielded from arrest and prosecution.
But Odongo refuted the allegations against him and instead counter-accused Obwoya of being a corrupt individual.
“That man is corrupt; I am going to arrest him over corruption; he has no power over the RDC because the RDC is the one who monitors what he does.” “When you see him reacting like that, it means there is something pinching him,” says Odongo.
He also alleges that Obwoya has used his position to get several contracts for himself and his relatives. Odongo didn’t, however, provide evidence for the allegations.
During the ceremony, a number of leaders from the region called for unity among the rivaling district heads to ensure proper service delivery to the people.