Kween, Uganda: Operations at Kween District Local Government reportedly came to a halt on the first day of the new administration after newly elected District Chairperson (LCV) Paul Kapchaiko Machinjach was accused of ordering civil servants out of district offices amid disagreements over an ongoing recruitment exercise.
According to multiple sources within the district, the standoff stems from a recruitment process intended to fill critical vacancies in the health, finance and administration departments. The sources allege that tensions escalated after several individuals reportedly backed by the district chairperson failed to make the official shortlist.
The allegations, which DailyExpress has yet to independently verify, claim that the chairperson objected to the omission of preferred candidates and subsequently moved to halt normal district operations.
District officials who spoke on condition of anonymity alleged that the recruitment dispute has disrupted service delivery and created uncertainty among technical staff.
Allegations of Political Interference
Sources familiar with the recruitment exercise claim that some of the candidates allegedly being supported by political leaders did not meet the minimum requirements established by the Ministry of Public Service and were therefore excluded from the shortlist.
Among the claims is that a relative of the district chairperson was being considered for a human resource position, while another candidate allegedly linked to local political mobilization efforts was being fronted for a health sector role.
However, no official statement has been issued by Machinjach regarding the allegations, and the claims remain contested.
The district leadership has also been accused of attempting to influence appointments in other departments, including finance, although documentary evidence supporting the allegations was not immediately available.
The reported impasse has raised concerns among residents and local stakeholders about the impact on public services, particularly in the health sector where several positions are yet to be filled.
Officials familiar with the recruitment process warned that prolonged delays could affect implementation of government programmes and critical service delivery across the district.
One senior technical officer, who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media, described the situation as a serious challenge to the independence of the district’s technical structures.
Anti-Corruption Unit Petitioned
Sources further claim that a petition has been submitted to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit regarding the allegations of abuse of office and interference in the recruitment process.
The allegations reportedly include claims of nepotism, political influence in public recruitment and obstruction of normal district operations.
However, the Anti-Corruption Unit had not publicly commented on the matter by press time, and it remained unclear whether any formal investigations had commenced.
As the standoff continues, local leaders and residents are calling for intervention from the Ministry of Local Government and other relevant authorities to ensure that district operations return to normal and that recruitment processes remain transparent and merit-based.
Efforts to obtain a response from Chairperson Machinjach and other district leaders were not immediately successful by publication time.
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