Kween district staff locked out of office over late coming

What the report says

Kween District Local Government in eastern Uganda was at the center of a workplace discipline dispute on Monday after district LCV chairperson Paul Majinjach Kapchemaiko locked out several staff members, including the chief administrative officer, for arriving late. According to The Observer, Kapchemaiko said he reached the district headquarters around 7:30 a.m. and found that the first employees only reported for duty about two hours later, which he said violated public service reporting rules.

The chairperson responded by placing police officers at the main entrance around 8 a.m. to keep workers from entering. The affected employees remained outside until late morning, when Kapchemaiko permitted them back into the compound and called an emergency meeting. He then issued what he described as a final warning, saying the move was meant to improve punctuality, discipline and service delivery. He also said district leaders would keep monitoring attendance and could take further action against repeated lateness.

The report also noted mixed reactions. One anonymous district staff member said punctuality matters but should be addressed through communication and established procedures. A former district councillor and a civil society representative both backed the chairperson’s emphasis on accountability, arguing that public servants should treat working hours seriously.

More broadly, the episode reflects ongoing concerns in local government administration about absenteeism and delayed reporting, which can affect public service delivery. The Observer reported the incident as part of Kapchemaiko’s effort to enforce stricter standards at the district.