Oyam District Speaker accused of bias

By Phillips Ogile
Oyam

Oyam District opposition Councillors have vowed to demonstrate against their District Speaker Alfred Okello Obaro for what they regard as bias.

Cllr Alfred Okello Obaro (centre) and District chairman Charles Okello Engola (right) listen to allegations by opposition Councillors (photo by Phillips Ogile)

Six Councillors including the Deputy Speaker on Monday June 30, petitioned the Speaker to censure the Secretary of Finance and head of government business Francis Okello Olwa on the basis of five allegations that they said were bringing the district into disrepute.

The said Counsillors include: Robert Owor (minakulu) Anna Ongom (Ngai and Minakulo), Anna Ekol (Otwal and Iceme) Milly Molly Omach (former vice chairman Oyam) and others.

Some of the opposition Counsillors during the heated session (photo by Phillips Ogile)

In the motion tabled by Cllr Robert Owor, it was alleged that the Secretary of Finance had not accounted for over 3 million shillings.

Cllr Owor added that Okello Olwa also lost the district motor cycle and had not bothered to report the loss to the council.

Five allegations were reportedly tabled before the speaker but only two were read by the speaker, hence the accusation of bias.

The Secretary of Finance denied the allegations, maintaining that the allegations were baseless and motivated by personal hatred propagated by his opponents.

The District Chairman Col (Rtd) Charles Okello Engola also dismissed the accusations as opposition intrigue and hit back at them for undermining development in the district.