Kamuli, Uganda: Kamuli District has finally constituted a new District Service Commission after almost a year without a fully functioning commission, with district leaders and residents now placing high expectations on the body to restore confidence in public recruitment.
The new commission comes amid a public outcry over allegations that the previous commission had become associated with job selling and other recruitment controversies.
Kamuli District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Bob Lawrence Marley said the new commission faces legal and procedural challenges because only three of the five proposed members have so far been sworn in, while two remain subject to petitions pending clearance.
Marley said the three members constitute a quorum for some work but cannot conduct the commission’s first sitting, which requires all five members to be fully constituted under the Local Government Act.
“Yes we have the quorum but it cannot hold its first sitting so we are seeking a waiver and consulting various laws for exceptions to address special circumstances especially when the public service expires, what happens to the interim so that services don’t suffer because of the lacuna,” Marley said.
He said the chairperson, who has now been sworn in and is entitled to a monthly salary, would begin his day-to-day work with the commission secretariat, while an induction programme is also expected.
The CAO explained that attempts to appoint a new commission had previously been made in November and December by the outgoing district council but failed amid disagreements.
The matter eventually attracted the intervention of First Deputy Prime Minister and Kamuli Woman MP Rebecca Kadaga, who advised that the incoming district leadership should be given an opportunity to constitute a commission and take responsibility for its performance.
Kadaga argued that public concerns over the previous commission required a fresh approach and that the incoming LCV leadership should have the opportunity to nominate members who would either earn public credit or face criticism for their performance.
The previous commission’s tenure had expired in phases, with one member leaving office in May, three in October and the chairperson in December. Attempts to replace them twice by the outgoing district council were unsuccessful, with the matter eventually left for the incoming leadership.
Five names were subsequently proposed and forwarded for appointment. They included David Richard Mutekanga as chairperson, Monica Takuba Namulondo, Thomas Badaza Batambuze, Madina Kiyingi Matege and Joyce Bazira Namusaabi.
However, petitions were raised against Kiyingi and Bazira over their previous records as members of the district land board and district service commission respectively.
Kamuli District LCV Chairperson Kaloli Dhizaala said three members had since been appointed and sworn in and were expected to begin addressing the commission’s backlog.
He urged the members to uphold public trust and perform their duties with integrity and merit.
“We finally received three people appointed and swore them in, expect them to be very engaged because we have a backlog but warned them that all eyes are on them and the hand that appointed/hired them on public trust will still disappoint/fire them because they have got a responsibility not a eating,” Dhizaala said.
Dhizaala said roads and the district service commission were among the two major concerns raised by residents during his campaign, making the restoration of an effective commission one of his administration’s priorities.
He said the district leadership had also introduced measures to strengthen oversight of public works, including its signature campaign for Bulungi Bwansi, or community service.
Political analyst and lawyer Cyprian Dhikusoka said the new leadership had brought renewed expectations for greater accountability in Kamuli.
He argued that individuals who had previously benefited from political brokerage and influence over public appointments could be uncomfortable with the changes.
Dhikusoka, however, cautioned against what he described as the misuse of petitions to target individuals, warning that people who make unsubstantiated allegations could face legal consequences.
David Richard Mutekanga, the newly appointed commission chairperson, pledged to uphold the law and base appointments on merit. He said his appointment came unexpectedly and that he had neither lobbied nor paid for the position.
“The appointment is a surprise, I didn’t lobby nor pay for it, it is a trust and a challenge for the calling for which legacy to rebuild together through principles, faith that my Catholic upbringing and professional ethics instilled in me,” Mutekanga said.
The new commission now faces the immediate task of addressing the recruitment backlog while navigating the legal and procedural questions surrounding its incomplete constitution.
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