Soroti City west Division Leaders Dismissed After Skipping Budget Meeting

Three top officials were affected, including finance secretary Mariam Nejje Achan and health and education secretary Dilis Akulo. Ms Akulo was replaced by Anna Rose Echolu, while Ms Achan’s position went to Vincent Opio, the councillor for Arapai Ward.

Additionally, works secretary Paul Elilu, representing Pamba Ward, was replaced by Silver Edoku of Senior Quarters Ward.

According to officials, the reshuffle followed the boycott of the budget meeting, which the absent members staged to protest unpaid allowances of about Shs300,000 each.

Deputy mayor Joseph Ochen said the mayor acted decisively despite being unwell to ensure council operations continued.

“Our mayor was not in office due to illness, but upon learning that executives had skipped the council session for laying the budget, he personally delivered letters effecting the reshuffle and proposed replacements for council approval so business could proceed,” Ochen said.

The new appointments were approved by council speaker Daniel Okello and were sworn in, with Deputy Town Clerk James Obore in attendance, allowing the budget process to move forward.

Elilu defended the boycott, explaining it was aimed at pressuring the administration to release pending allowances totaling about Shs1.7 million.

“Some of us were voted out in the recent elections and wanted our unpaid dues settled. Despite repeated engagements, the mayor and town clerk did not respond, which is why we abstained from the meeting until our concerns were addressed,” he said.

Newly appointed secretary Edoku expressed gratitude for the opportunity, noting it would help enhance his leadership experience.

The reshuffle exposes ongoing friction in Soroti City West Division leadership over unpaid allowances, even as officials push to maintain smooth council operations.