Busia County inaugurates Malaba Municipality Board

Teso,

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

KNA by Absalom Namwalo

Busia County Government inaugurated the Malaba Municipality Board that will oversee the implementation of urban development policies as highlighted in the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP).

The nine members of the Municipality, eight of whom took oath of office in the ceremony overseen by Busia County Attorney Innocent Omboko at Malaba Town Hall grounds within the Municipality, included David Okuku Otieno, Robert Imamai, Tom Julius Ekwenye, Rose Idewa, Ishmael Orodi, George Oria Etyang, Getrude Olaktar, Mercy Imoh and Peter Odima.

Of the sworn in members Mr. Ekwenye, Orodi, and Ms. Idewa represented governor’s nominees. Others were Getrude Olaktar (professional association), George Oria Etyang (neighbourhood association), Robert Imamai (private sector), David Otieno (informal sector) and Mercy Imoh (Chief Officer Lands, Housing and Urban Development).

County Executive Committee Member in the same department as Ms. Imoh didn't take oath of office by virtue that she had already been sworn in by a Chief Magistrate when she joined the Executive after the 2022 general election.

Deputy Governor Arthur Odera challenged the members who took oath of office to brace for a tough task ahead as residents had a lot of expectations on them that included restoring order and sanity and above all to give them hope in resolving longstanding squabbles that had delayed the strategic border town to put itself among the equals in achieving its development priorities.

“You will also be guided by the Municipal charter which outlines your functions and other relevant strategic policy documents,” he said.

He added, "residents want to see a well-organized municipality that is free from congestion and poor planning. We must have a legal framework and the commitment to achieve this."

The DG said the Municipality that encompasses Malaba Central, Malaba North, Malaba South, and Amukura West wards needs good management and an all-inclusive administration that will satisfy the needs of the residents.

His sentiments were echoed by Busia County Assembly Deputy Speaker and Malaba Central Ward Member of the County Assembly Ronald Ochalu who said the inauguration of the board was timely, noting that it would ensure there is efficient running of affairs within the municipality.

“The Board has a role to play in ensuring Malaba Municipality border town regains the glory it had in the past. We will require your input on what needs to be fixed to restore order,” said Ochalu.

Acting Municipality Manager Planner Brian Abwaku added that with the board in place, the realisation of residents' dreams of achieving socio-economic development for the border town that is the hub of the Great lakes region would come true.

Abwaku, a town planner by profession, revealed that the new board would hold its inaugural meeting on October 11th, 2023, where elections to elect the chairman, vice chairman, and other officials to fill various committees would be held.

"We have high expectations in terms of work plans with the border Municipality putting measures in place to address drainage challenges; we are also addressing the issue of removing businessmen and businesswomen on the northern corridor to reduce accidents," he said, adding that the Municipality would help generate more revenue for the County Government.

It was a relief to Malaba residents after a protracted legal battle spearheaded by Altaf Bachu that saw three issues ironed out for them to give the Municipality a clean bill of health.

Bachu told the press in Malaba on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony that the first issue that prompted them to move to court in March 2022 was the Kocholia liquid fertiliser factory that failed to take off.

He said the second grievance was the failure by the previous regime to actualize the construction of a fruit factory at Ikapolok farm and that the third burning issue was the way the Municipality Board was constituted without residents being subjected to public participation.

"With the dust now having settled, we are receiving our new child with open hands hoping that the new Municipality will deliver its mandate to the eager residents who have high expectations of the inaugurated members of the board," Bachu said.

Courtesy; KNA