KIKUUBE – Kikuube district local government has finally received a District Service Commission (DSC) after struggling for two years to recruit public servants.
This was after the district council appointed five nominees whose names were submitted to the Ministry of Public Service, after which only four were approved.
The successful members of the commission include; the committee Chairperson Rurihona Anakereti, Dan Matovu Atuhura, Evans Kasenene and Edward Mwesigwa Barigonzaki as members.
The four on Wednesday afternoon, took oath of office at a function presided over by the Hoima Grade 1 Magistrate, Winne Nankya Jatiko.
In 2019, the Kikuube interim district council entered an agreement with Kibaale district council to use the Kibaale district Service Commission to recruit staff.
However, in 2020, the Kikuube district Executive led by Francis Kazini suspended the services of Kibaale district Service Commission on allegations of corruption and biasness.
This saw the district returning Shs 500 million to the national treasury as unspent at the end of the 2020/2021 financial year and left several departments with inadequate staff following the suspension of recruitment as they waited for substantive service commission.
Speaking during the swearing-in function held at Kikuube district headquarters, the technical staff and political leaders all focused their speeches on the issue of integrity.
Andrew Milton, the Kikuube district Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) urged the commission to be patriotic and transparent as they carry out their duties to ensure that the district produces quality civil servants.
He noted that most people in the country have lost trust in the District Service Commission because of the increasing acts of selling jobs adding that this act is dangerous because it kills service delivery.
“You must do your work independently without influence peddling in order for you to deliver, I am here to implement the government policy and for me to achieve that, it is you people to give competent staff who are supposed to turn around and transform this district, so if you forward wrong staff, then I will not do much and the council will not do much,” he warned.
Amlan Tumusime, the Kikuube Resident District Commissioner (RDC) explained that the District Service Commission is sensitive because it is the basis of service delivery.
He asked the service commission to avoid corruption tendencies because it affects development and is a source of insecurity.
He adds that as a new district, they need to be different from their neighboring districts whose service commissions are being accused of selling jobs.
“We expect you to offer jobs to our people on merit and I want to ask you to stick to the oath that you have made today keeping in mind that when you violate it ,you will be held responsible,” he said adding that recruiting after receiving money from the applicant can result to recruitment of incompetent staff.
Peter Banura, the Kikuube LCV Chairman expressed excitement about the commission adding that the district is going to start recruiting staff starting with parish chiefs to end the challenge of staffing gaps in different departments.
He also asked the commission to do their best to avoid shaming the image of the district adding that they need the district to be a role model and challenged the members to be fair, God fearing, trustworthy and transparent as they serve the district.
The Chairman of the Service Commission, Rurihona Anakereti commended the district council for trusting them with the office and promised that the commission will be transparent and follow guidelines as they carry out their duties to ensure the development of the district.
He said that corruption will not be tolerated during their tenure and challenged the public with qualifications to get prepared to apply for the available opportunities.
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