Authorities in Apac district are concerned over the Electoral Commission’s decision to conduct elections in the newly created town councils and Sub Counties despite them being in a non-functional state due to financial constraints.
Recently, Government announced the creation of 364 sub-counties, 352 town councils and 10 cities country wide with the aim of taking services closer to residents, but according to the Finance Minister, Matia Kasajia, there is no money to use.
However, authorities in Apac say they are troubled by the fact that the Electoral Commission has gone ahead to organise elections in the newly administrative units which may cause government problems should they decide to petition the court.
According to Michael Wanje, the Apac Chief Administrative Officer, the newly created sub-counties in Apac district include; Teboke curved from Chegere Sub County, Apoi that was curved from Akokoro Sub County, Akokoro Town Council from Akokoro Sub County and Ibuje Town Council curved from Ibuje Sub County.
The CAO argues that all these administrative units do not have budgets even start functioning in the next financial year.
However, Lango and Acholi Regional Electoral Officer Sarah Bukariwa noted that the electoral commission is neither responsible for the creation of the administrative units nor their operationalisation, but that its work is to conduct elections in the gazetted areas.
The Apac District LC V Vice Chairman also the leader of government business Odongo Asante, says that in case the government fails to provide funds to operationalise the new administrative units, the district main council may be forced to pass a resolution reverting the newly created sub-counties to their original areas.