His wife died last
week, he buried his child yesterday- yes, just yesterday and he passed on
today. The circumstance for his demise is a sticky one. Why? It’s like a taboo
to talk its detail in today’s motherland. But middle aged Lokuth was shot dead
at about 6:45 am this Wednesday.
Flanked by three
colleagues, Lokuth had gone to harvest charcoal for survival when anonymous
gunmen rained bullets on them. Another man also shot did not die; now in Moroto
hospital (may his soul remain with him). Two women in this ill-fated charcoal
team managed to scatter safely. The incident took place near Nadiket in Loputuk
parish along–Tapac road/Moroto- Kitale highway. Residents of Loputuk are in
tears, they blame it all on the Tepeth.
Last month Government alerted
local authorities in Tapac Sub County on the impending second round of Disarmament
in the area. Sure, the removal of guns
from Tepeth is necessary and should be taken seriously. Everybody recognises popular
report that disarmament was certainly a success story in Karamoja, but it’s
wise to also take it that the thing was not uniformly done. Tapac, a
mountainous area wasn’t cleaned and this could suggest why mayhem has persisted
here.
******* ******* ******* ******* *******
Two weeks ago, a
gentleman - my neighbour came back from the ATM machine crying. His balance had
mysteriously reduced by Ush 700,000/=. He reported the pain to police. Now
imagine- after customers paying things like; withdrawal fee, monthly service
money, depositing /queuing stress...how can it be nice to lose more cash strangely
from the account? The reason people flood the bank every end of month is not
only because they are really broke, but rather some want to grab their hard
earned salary before ghosts pick ‘theirs.’
Well, the people of
Karamoja appreciate the presence of Stanbic bank in the region. At least the
bank is here with us waiting for, though not helping Karamoja to develop.
Others do not want to come and wait. They see no; tarmac, no electricity, no
big businesses, no large employers as a threat to the banking service. But Stanbic
people need to style up a little and stop dreaming that they monopolise
business in Karamoja. How can three branches serve seven districts? There is
need for every district to have a bank!
Currently there are
employees who spend almost half of their salary in transport from their
location to the banking branch every end of month. This is not fair to the
working citizens although economically it is fair and lovely for the banking
institution...reducing cost of rent, salary for human resource, taxes etc. Does
someone think I have raised a wrong point?
******* ******* ******* ******* *******
There is also this telecom
network called MTN. I love it; like everyone does but their service delivery in
Karamoja is sincerely wanting. People would not grumble so much about the
blinking network if they had good customer services here in Karamoja. For
instance the cost of replacing MTN sim card for a Moroto resident is about Ush
90,000l=. Why?
Although personnel
trained to do this are alive and happy within Moroto, they will never spare
their precious time to help you out. Thus, you end up travelling to Soroti to
replace MTN card where you will part with Ush 50,000/= for transport and spare Ush
30,000/= for accommodation and feeding. Another Ush 5000/= will be required to
get police letter before thinking about the Ush 3000/= you must pay in
replacement fee.
The point is MTN customer care in our Moroto and I think the whole of Karamoja is too poor. The
company staff communication with subscribers is that of a snob living in a
village of the poor. They command, deceive and really condition people. Yet not
all the services are even readily available; for instance the internet gadgets
deal is so pitiable. MTN internet modem in Moroto costs three times one would
pay for it in Soroti or other towns and you can’t even easily find the thing.
On phone charging provision, I have heard several customers cry that batteries
get changed if you go charging at MTN office in Moroto.
However, the Mobile
money service is doing smart; probably because the deal has been given to
several business people who are committed to respect customers in order to make
more money. I suggest MTN bosses concerned need to restructure and improve
services in Karamoja. Otherwise, there is a likelihood of losing more and more
customers as competitors take advantage, for instance am very sure there are
hundreds of people seeking to replace their lost sim cards, have failed and
just given up because there is no one to help them out. Please MTN do something!
