By Sabir Musa

Arua

Arua District Local Government is yet to relocate the head quarter to former Vurra County (residual Arua District) about 3-years after creation of Arua City and Terego District.
The two administrative units were curved out of the mother (Arua District) leaving only four sub counties of Vurra, Logiri, Arivu and Ajia making up the residual Arua District where the district head quarter is supposed to be shifted, according to Ministry of Local Government guideline.
However, delays to relocate the head quarter has forced Arua City Council to pass a resolution to petition Speaker of Parliament, seeking intervention.
Speaking during the recent council sitting, Arua City Mayor, Wadri Sam Nyakua advised that the Speaker of Parliament should be petitioned to peacefully address the matter. “The council should make a petition and deliver to Speaker of Parliament. I don’t want us to go in chaos like Mbarara and Soroti because we should now behave like planned people” he submitted.

The council cites inadequate office spaces as major challenge and delay to sharing of assets as the major problems resulting from delays to relocate.
Ayivu North City Councilor, Godfrey Anguyo reveals that the inadequate office space as result of delayed relocation is now affecting service delivery in the city. “This has crippled service delivery because most of our entities have nowhere to sit, they don’t have office” Anguyo remarked.

In response, Arua City Council Speaker, Teddy Yaako who acknowledged challenges of inadequate office space pledged to draft a petition which will be submitted to Speaker of Parliament. She tasked Clerk to Council to extract minutes of the sitting as a tool in the process. “It should be read by City Clerk, he must know the purpose of requesting money for the Speaker and team to deliver the petition” She says.
Arua District officials in recent interviews based argument for delayed relocation on wrangles over location of proposed district head quarter in the residual Arua District, lack of funds and delayed communication from Ministry of Local Government.

COVER PHOTO: Arua City Counillors debating matter of public importance during the recent council sitting By Sabir Musa