RC to lieutenants: Perform diligently

MEDDU MULISA in Bukoba

THE Kagera Regional Commissioner, Mr Salum Kijuu, has tasked leaders under his jurisdiction to undertake close supervision of development projects, to ensure value for money. He issued the directive at a meeting with Bukoba Municipal Council councillors.

The focus of the meeting was the latest report of the Controller and Auditor General (CAG), in which the council was awarded “Qualified Opinion” report for the 2016/17 financial year. Mr Kijuu noted with concern that councils in Muleba, Bukoba, Biharamulo, Ngara, Karagwe, Kyerwa and Missenyi had not collected the targeted maximum revenue.

“This trend should stop forthwith. Councillors should work as a team and avoid conflicts in the course of discharging their obligations. All payments must be controlled through Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFDs) to avoid cheating,” he said. He directed councillors to make sure that they float tenders and award projects to competent contractors.

“Payments made through agents must be deposited in banks on a daily basis. We must change the attitude of depending solely on the central government and donors because the budget was very tight,” he said.

Mr Kijuu explained that the region was among few regions with a high standard of passable roads. He urged Kagera residents to protect road infrastructure, saying reckless drivers who damaged roads through over loading and spilling oil would be prosecuted.

The region has a total of 7,505 kilometres road network, 925 of which (48.2) per cent were in good condition, 849.6 kms (about 44.3 per cent) were in average condition while 143.4 kms (about 7.5 per cent) were in poor condition.

The Kagera Regional Administrative Secretary, Mr Diwani Athuman, said the government was in the process of filling vacant posts, occasioned by the recent operation against the ghost workers’ malady. He explained that eleven Ministry of Health staff were posted to the region last month.

The Bukoba Municipal Mayor, Mr Adonis Karumuna, said work had begun on the eagerly-awaited Bukoba market complex and a new bus stand in Nyanga Ward. “We have contacted the Tanzania Investment Bank (TID) for funding. A write-up has also been forwarde