Nebbi, Uganda: A section of civil servants in Nebbi District Local Government have threatened to down tools over the delayed payment of their January 2026 salaries, accusing the district’s embattled Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of deliberately frustrating salary approvals amid an ongoing standoff with the district council.
Several civil servants, who spoke to DailyExpress on condition of anonymity, said they were preparing to stop reporting for duty after January ended without their salaries reflecting on their bank accounts.
“With January already ended, we see no reason to continue reporting for work when our minds are unsettled and we have pressing needs that require money,” one civil servant said.
The affected workers allege that the delay stems from the CAO, Ms Dorothy Ajwang, whom they accuse of refusing to approve January salaries across departments following a district council resolution of December 22, 2025, which called for her immediate transfer.
According to the workers, repeated appeals made through departmental heads to have salaries and other pending payments approved have yielded no results.
“This is ill-intentioned and meant to sabotage service delivery in Nebbi District after the council resolved that she be transferred,” another civil servant claimed.
However, Principal Human Resource Officer Josephine Aparo said her department was still verifying claims of non-payment.
“As far as I know, there has been no system failure on our side, nor from the Ministry of Finance or Ministry of Public Service regarding salary payments,” Aparo said.
Nebbi Chief Finance Officer Linus Okecha dismissed allegations that the salary delay was due to deliberate refusal by the CAO to approve payments.
“As head of finance, I refute claims that the CAO deliberately refused to approve January salaries,” Okecha said, adding that Ms Ajwang has been out of office for about two weeks due to malaria.
He acknowledged the delayed salaries but said the matter had since been resolved administratively. “We are aware of the delay, and we call for calm. Hopefully by next week, all payments including salaries will be approved,” Okecha said.
The Chief Finance Officer further clarified that Ms Ajwang remains the lawful Accounting Officer of Nebbi District Local Government until the appointing authorities—namely the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and the Secretary to the Treasury—formally revoke her appointment.
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