On March 17, 2026, the village health teams (VHTs) from Opali village in Amolatar paid a crucial visit to the offices of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) and the District Health Officer (DHO).
The visit was to address urgent concerns regarding the delayed payments for their services. The deadline for a resolution to pay them was ending on March 18 and they sought immediate action to rectify the situation.
During the meeting, the VHTs emphasised their proactive efforts at the sub-county level, where they had been pursuing their payments without success.
Rather than finding a solution, the team reported facing threats of legal action which exacerbated their frustration.
Awe George, the acting assistant district health officer (ADHO) for environmental health, issued an official apology on behalf of the district.
He acknowledged that the communication from sub-county officials toward the village health teams may have lacked appropriateness and sensitivity, contributing to the misunderstanding and distress.
Recognizing the severity of the situation, the VHTs urged Awe George to connect with Kampala to clarify the status of their payments. This prompted Awe George to reach out to Alimafi Abel, the overall supervisor, who expressed surprise at the complaint.
Abel noted that if only two individuals were affected, it would generally be seen as a minor error or a mobile money discrepancy. He quickly directed Awe George to consult the overall technical supervisor for further insights.
Upon contacting the technical supervisor, Awe was met with further astonishment at the revelation that more than fifty members of the village health teams had not received their payments.
The technical supervisor instructed Awe to compile a list of all affected members and utilise email to facilitate the investigation concerning the status of the funds.
Deputy RDC Obonyo Magwar extended his apologies to the health teams. He acknowledged the mismanagement evident at the sub-county level, promising that the behavior of involved staff would be addressed by higher authorities.
Magwar reassured the village health teams that he would ensure their payments were processed and requested their patience during this challenging time.
As the situation unfolds, the village health teams remain hopeful for a swift resolution to their payment delays, as their dedication to the community’s health continues to drive their advocacy efforts.
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