More than 90% of Kabale district headquarters staff have not worked today after they were turned away the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Albert Matsiko Mutungwire for late coming. Mutungwire locked out about 98 of the 128 district staff that reported for work after 8.15am.
Mutungwire who took charge of the main gate at around 08:15am turned away the workers accusing them of reporting late for work contrary to Public Service regulations, which require them to report at 8:00am and leave at 5pm.
The regulations provide for a lunch break between 12:45pm to 2:00pm. By the time Mutungwire took charge of the gate, only about 30 of the 128 district staff had already arrived in their offices.
Some of the top officials turned away for late coming included the Natural Resources Officer, Rogers Akatwijuka, Chief Finance Officer, Julius Mujuni, Vector Control Officer, James Turyimuka, Inspector of Schools, Ketty Kasisi, Principle Internal Auditor, Lawrence Bitwiromunda, Principal Inspector of Schools, Vastine Beyendera and Senior Land Management Officer Rogers Ngabirano among others.
Mutungwire says although he delayed the operation by 15 minutes to allow some of the officers to get in, many of them didn’t show up.
“They are supposed to be here by 8am, we gave them 15 minutes more [but] they still came late. So what we have decided now, this is the third time am netting down these people. The first time, I gave them oral warning, the second time it was oral warning, the third time am going to put it in writing for them to defend themselves as to why disciplinary action should not be taken again. Then from there I submit to the disciplinary committee, they defend themselves. Then I submit them to the appointing authority. This is close to only 30 staff who were in office by 8.30am and yet clients want services.”
Mutungwire conducted a similar operation in July and August last year and turned away over 50 workers for late coming. Canon Enock Kazooba, a resident of Rubaya sub-county has welcomed the move by the CAO to act on latecomers.
According to Canon Kazooba, residents are tired of showing up at the district in need of services only to find empty offices. Johnson Baguma, a resident of Buhara sub-county, said the action of the CAO was commendable, adding that most civil servants at the district have a tendency of reporting late and draw government salaries for no work done.
“Because what he is doing really, is the best thing we would want him to do. Yes, time management should really be put in place so that all civil servants come in time and everything is done in time. I wish he could also inform these sub-county chiefs such that they can also put that in the system and in place.”
Patrick Besigye Keihwa, the Kabale district LC V chairperson, says habitual late coming of civil servants has affected the smooth delivery of services to residents. Keihwa says they plan to introduce incentives to appreciate those who keep time and serve diligently.
“You come late, you go a bit early and you find the input is not worth what you are giving the district in terms of service delivery. So I cherish the chief administrative officer’s way of doing things. Every other time he does this, we have got improved reporting on duty and even staying in offices. Once you are supposed to do something and you deliberately not do it, then the supervisor must take action. The CAO sometimes have been sometimes holding the payments and when we sit as members of the executive and top management, we shall take a decision. Equally, those people who come as early as possible have also been motivated in a way of giving them some prices and giving them some few courses to go and attend.”