Sarah Ikwayo, a mother of eight and resident of the Kaberamaido district was married to the late Pius Enasu, a former Grade III teacher employed by Lira district until his death in 2010.
The Lira Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)
and the Principal Human Resource Officer are on the spot for allegedly frustrating the efforts of a widow to access the pension and gratuity of her late husband. Sarah Ikwayo, a mother of eight and resident of the Kaberamaido
district was married to the late Pius Enasu, a former Grade III teacher employed by Lira district
until his death in 2010.
However, Ikwayo says that she has been processing her late
husband's benefits without much success. She accuses Ben Otim Ogwete, the Lira Chief Administrative Officer, and Albert Apenyo,
the Principal Human Resource Officer- PHRO of "sitting" on her husband's benefits. Ikwayo
says she can no longer pay her children’s school fees or feed them
because she has wasted all the resources in processing her late husband’s
benefits.
Kumam bite:
//Cue in: “Abedo wire kan…
Cue out: ... anaka lia etye.”//
The deceased’s eldest son, Jimmy Otwoma, wondered why his
mother has not succeeded in getting their father's benefits despite having acquired all the necessary
documents. He also accused the Principal Human Resource Officer of frustrating
their efforts.
//Cue in: “We had a…
Cue out: … for the muzee.”//
Otwoma, who is currently buying produce in Lira City, is
worried that his younger siblings may become unruly due to frustration.
//Cue in: “I’m the first…
Cue out: … build us somewhere.”//
The family is considering dragging the two civil servants
to court. Through Ponsiano Okello and Co. Advocates, Ikwayo argues that the
actions of the officers have greatly inconvenienced, and traumatized them leading to psychological torture.
They have given the district a week’s ultimatum starting Friday, December
9th to process and pay her late husband’s
pension and other benefits and pay them Shillings 110m as damages and legal fees. However, Albert Apenyo, the Lira Principal Human Resource Officer trashed the accusations, saying Ikwanyo’s efforts to access her husband’s gratuity were hindered by the lack
of legal documents required by the Ministry of Public service, adding that she is
not the only one affected.
“Some of these people had the correct information and we have
processed it but those ones that had challenges such as the late father to Sam
Engola, such cases of 70’s there is no way the beneficiaries can avail the
documents and that is what causes the delay in payment because we have to
consult the ministry of public service. Otherwise, if the information is
readily available we work there, and then within the span of two months and we
pay," he said. Apenyo was, however, quick to note that Ikwayo's file has finally
been approved by the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Public Service.
//Cue in: “I wrote to…
Cue out: … released for her.”//
In the last financial year, Lira District forwarded 36
claims to the Ministry of Finance out of which eight clean records were provided
and 12 have so far been verified.
