Amolatar, Uganda – Amolatar District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Rhoda Oroma, has vehemently denied allegations that she deliberately destroyed a government vehicle, insisting that the driver and the Deputy CAO are the ones who should take responsibility for the incident.
Appearing before a charged public baraza on Friday at the district headquarters, Oroma told a gathering convened by District Chairperson Morris Ogwal Omara that the accident occurred on July 29, 2026, a day after the LC1 elections. She explained that a tyre burst while she was in the vehicle, causing it to veer off the road.
"I sustained back injuries and was rushed to Pope John 2 Hospital Aber for treatment. I was told to take a five-day bed rest due to the pain," Oroma recounted.
The CAO clarified that after the tyre was changed, the driver returned the vehicle to the district and handed it over to the Deputy CAO, whom she had formally assigned to handle district operations during her medical leave.
Crucially, Oroma noted that she was officially off duty when the vehicle reportedly got into another accident. She argued that since she had already handed over responsibility to her deputy and the vehicle was in the custody of the driver upon return, the two officers must answer for whatever happened afterward.
"Reports that I overturned the district vehicle are not true. The driver and the Deputy CAO are the ones answerable," she asserted.
The baraza, which was called to assess service delivery across Amolatar's 16 sub-counties, also turned emotional when the district's ambulance driver, Tonny Ayuli, publicly revealed that he had not received his salary for more than two years.
Ayuli admitted that he recently received a payment of 3 million shillings but insisted that he was owed over 10 million shillings in accumulated arrears. His testimony drew sympathy from the audience, who pointed out that his job often involves risking his life at night to transport critically ill patients to hospitals.
The revelation angered many residents, who argued that Ayuli's contributions to the community were being undervalued.
In response, LC5 Chairperson Ogwal Omara immediately directed Principal Assistant Secretary (PAS) Susan Acio Eyura to address the matter. Acio requested five minutes to respond, saying she was equally surprised by the development.
Acio later explained that Ayuli's name had been struck off the payroll by the ministry due to a period when there was no vehicle for him to drive. However, she assured the gathering that efforts are underway to resolve the issue, and Ayuli is expected to receive his appointment letter reinstating his position. She also clarified that the 3 million shillings he received had tax deductions.
Chairperson Ogwal Omara used the forum to issue a stern warning to civil servants who have been absconding from duty, citing a recent assessment that placed absenteeism in the district at a staggering 45 percent.
He singled out some sub-county chiefs and health workers for dodging work, a practice he said is denying the people of Amolatar essential services.
Ogwal gave startling examples of poor service delivery, including an incident in Etam Town Council where a security guard allegedly conducted a medical examination on a patient and wrongly told the patient they lacked blood. In another case in Aputi, a teacher accused of inappropriate conduct with a pupil was still at the same school—a situation Ogwal described as unacceptable.
The Chairperson also touched on critical issues such as road infrastructure and the Parish Development Model (PDM), urging civil servants to be accountable and prioritize the welfare of the people they serve.
