Deputy Inspector General of Government, Dr. Patricia Achan Okiria has been shocked by the high rate of absenteeism among health workers in government health facilities in Kiryandongo district.

Dr. Okiria was in the district to monitor the progress of Development Response to Displacement Impact Project (DRDIP). She directed the Kiryandongo Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to immediately take stern disciplinary action against the absentee staff taking salaries for no work done.

Deputy Inspector General of Government, Dr. Patricia Achan Okiria made an impromptu visit at Masindi Port Health Centre III in Masindi Port Sub-county, Kiryandongo District. She found that out of the twelve members of staff in the facility, only three were present while the rest had absconded from duty without any notification. These included Denis Okello, the officer in charge of the health center.
The Deputy IGG also visited Kaduku Health Centre III, also in in Masindi Port Sub-county, where she only found two staff members at work, including an enrolled nurse and an askari while the rest had absconded from duty. Eunice Ngonzi, the officer in charge of the health center was also absent from duty without permission.

Deputy IGG Dr. Okiria directed the Kiryandongo Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Martins Jacan Gwokto, to take immediately disciplinary action against the absentee staff and write a report on the matter to her office.
According to Dr. Okiria, absenteeism among health workers is the key factor for poor service delivery in health facilities in the district. She added that this habit must not be tolerated at all.
The Deputy IGG said that such cases of absenteeism are triable before the Leadership Code Tribunal because by absconding from duty, the health workers and other civil servants are doing a disservice to Ugandans.
On the implementation of the Development Response to Displacement Impact Project in Kiryandongo district, Dr. Okiria tasked the political leaders and the district technical staff to ensure there is accountability to ensure value for money in the project.
Edith Aliguma, the Kiryandongo District Chairperson and the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Dan Muganga noted that the district has benefited a lot under the DRDIP, especially in the Education, health, and road sectors.

Kiryandongo has received 36 billion shillings since the project was launched in 2018 and supported 330 projects in the district.