Samuel Ahabwe, the Lira Municipality town clerk says they have successfully re-possessed the authority of the park after the expiry of their one-year contract.
Last week, Lira municipality councillors asked the Local Government Ministry to transfer Samuel Ahabwe accusing him of failing to implement council resolutions. They cited failure to evict vendors from various streets and failing to stop Saving Grace Limited from managing Coronation Park, a public open space.
Samuel Ahabwe, the Municipal Town Clerk says that funds were secured from another source which he did not reveal.
According to Ahabwe, each councilor received a total of shillings 525,000 for the five quarters that were not paid.
The money was sent to Lira Municipality account during 2017/2018 and 2018 and 2019 financial years respectively.
It was meant to cater for the payment of Ex Gratia for about 70 local councilors from all the four Divisions of Adyel, Ojwina, Railways and Central.
Drawn from the four Divisions of Ojwina, Adyel, Railways and Central, the councilors numbering 75 on Thursday staged a demonstration protesting the delayed payment of their Ex Gratia.
It took the intervention of police from Lira CPS to quelled down the rowdy councilors.
Geoffrey Omara Okello, a local councilor representing Bar Onger parish at the Railways Division Council says they have not been paid for the last five quarters.
They have continued operating along Bala, Kwania roads and Jinja Camp, Uhuru Barr and some corridors within the Central Business district of Lira town.
Many street vendors have also remained visibly operating along busy streets Kitgum stage, areas around Lira Main market Noteber road at the corner of Amulam complex and Obote Avenue.
Ogweng, whose arrest was sanctioned by Lt Col. Edith Nakalema, the Commandant of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit last week, is wanted for commissioning and supervising the handover of a contract for the management of Lira Coronation Park to Saving Grace Investment in disregard of procurement laws.
Minyang is alleged to have attempted to attack Mike Adoko, a resident of Ayago trading centre, in Lira town. He was arrested on Monday evening from Lira town and is being held at Lira CPS.
Supply in the area is restored only at night while the taps remain dry during the day. Women and girls line up at the water points long after midnight to harvest water for use the next day. At Adyel Children’s play park, near the Division headquarters, the only available borehole is often crowded from as early as 5 a.m. until midnight when it's usually locked.
