Gulu LC5 Chairperson Martin Ojara Mapenduzi m in his office.

They’re not private: Gulu politicians, civil servants directed to return gov’t property

(Last Updated On: 7 December 2018)

Gulu – Once a government property it will solely be for the State! However, some civil servants across the country today treat government or public property as their personal.

In Gulu district – the belief is being thwarted with LC5 chairman – Martin Ojara Mapenduzi coming out lately to issue a directive to politicians and civil servants keeping such property for their own use.

In doing so, Mr. Mapenduzi has issued a 14 day ultimatum to Gulu municipal mayor, His Worship Labeja George directing him to return back the mowing machine and Public Address System belonging to health department that he took without permission.

According to Mapenduzi, his friend Labeja is currently using the mowing machine for personal benefit. He also wants the mayor to return an Ipad that was given to the current LC3 chairperson of Pece division, Kelly Komakech when he was still serving as Gulu municipal council speaker.

In 2016 polls, Komakech was elected as Pece division LC 3chairperson.

In a letter addressed to Gulu municipal Town Clerk, Mr. Ojara instructed him to pick all the council belongings from those individual within the given period of 14 days, describing the practice as “abuse of office and misuse of government property”.

“Failure for this people to comply within the given period of 14 days, law shall take its cause,” part of the letter to Town Clerk reads.

Mr. Kelly Komakech, in an interview with our reporter on phone admitted that he was given the Ipad when he was still the speaker but said he lost the Ipad in 2010.

“I lost it and many other valuables while traveling to Kigali [Rwanda] for council trip. On return I reported the case to Gulu central police station for further investigation and tracking,” he said.

As for the Public Address System, he refuted the allegation of involvement saying that it’s the mayor with it not him.

Some of the government properties to be recovered from these politicians whilst civil servants include; a mowing machine from Mayor Labeja Gorge, an Ipad computer from Kelly Komakech, Laptop computer from Atwal Robert Okello, Laptop computer from former speaker municipal council Geoffrey Akena, laptop computer from Ojok David and a motorbike from retired civil servant only identified as Ociti.

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