By Godwin Abedican

Arua

According to section 18 of the Local Government Act, a district chairperson is mandated to nominate a Vice Chairperson from among the councilors and appoint other secretaries from among the councilors to steer the district council and perform the executive functions of the council.

In this Regard Arua district Chairman Alfred Okuonzi has reshuffled his district cabinet. The same act also permits for the reshuffling of the committee only after at least after 2 and a half years of service. His decision came on Monday 18^th December 2023 during the second sitting of the third session of the 9^th Arua district council sitting.

Having served for the last two and a half years, Hon. Cosmas Ayikobua, the councilor for Ajia Sub County who served as the Vice Chairperson, Secretary for community service in the district council has been replaced by   Hon. Wiilaim Bilea the councilor for Logiri Sub County.
Similarly, Hon. Solomon Anguzu, the councilor for Vurra Sub County who was the secretary for Finance Planning and Administration has been replaced by Hon. Hope Eyokia.

Meanwhile those who retained their positions included, Hon. Luijji Candini the secretary for human capital development under which education, health, roads and community services and Hon. Yerusa Alikuru, the secretary for production natural resources and marketing.

Speaking during the council sitting Mr. Okuonzi emphasized that this move should not be tagged to any political motivations or intentions “I have simply exercised the mandate given to me. This is because our most important and critical task is service delivery to the people. I have high expectations from them and they have to pick from where the previous executives left,” Okuonzi said. 

Hon. Cosmas Ayikobua, the outgone Vice Chairperson appreciates the works in his regime saying he takes the reshuffling in good faith “I think I worked well in controlling the council even to the point of people wanting to fight in the DEC. I now take the floor as an ordinary member of the council and am leaving this office with clean hands and I did not have any cases of abuse of office.” Hon. Ayikobua said in his remarks after being dropped.

Hon. Solomon Anguzu, now former secretary for finance planning and administration says this will give him the opportunity for openness something he has not been doing “My happiness is that I did not involve myself in corruption, cheating and mention them. I think it has been a good work. We shall still continue being part of this council. In that position I didn’t get the opportunity to exercise my roles as a councilor because as a DEC member it’s like your hands and legs are tied because you don’t express yourself in most cases you are being controlled”. On. Anguzu said.

The district executive committee comprises of the district chairperson, the vice chairperson and secretaries not exceeding 5 in number where at least one of the secretaries is expected to be a female.

COVER PHOTO: Alfred Okuonzi, the district Chaiperson speaking to the media after announcing the changes By Godwin Abedican