The Head of Public Service, Lucy Nakyobe, has instructed town clerks across the country to immediately remove all political campaign posters now that the elections are over.
She made the directive while opening the Annual General Assembly of Town Clerks in Bushenyi District.
“You all know that elections are done. It is now your duty to ensure that towns are clean. From here, I am directing you to remove all campaign posters from wherever they are with immediate effect,” Nakyobe said.
She also urged town clerks to help calm tensions among citizens who may have fallen out during the election period.
Nakyobe warned that dirty towns and poor sanitation put people’s lives at risk, especially during the rainy season.
“A clean city or town is not a luxury. It is a public health factor that each of you must comply with,” she said.
“If you find any building without a septic tank, please close it immediately until the owner establishes one.”
The head of public service also criticised town clerks who stay away from their duty stations.
“If you know that you no longer want to work, please leave this job immediately,” she said.
“A town clerk is deployed in one area but spends most of the time in Kampala. You must be at your workplace.”
Local Government Minister Raphael Magyezi said town clerks must show clear progress in the areas they lead.
“You cannot be a town clerk for five years and have nothing to show,” Magyezi said.
Government officials acknowledged complaints about low pay but said systems have been put in place to improve revenue collection and service delivery.
Nakyobe also warned against corruption in local government offices.
“Never tell somebody, ‘We shall see.’ That is how corruption starts,” she said.