KAYUNGA — A heated exchange erupted during a stakeholders' meeting in Kayunga District as district leaders demanded accountability from the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) over long-standing corruption allegations, while anti-riot police maintained a heavy deployment around the District Council Hall amid reports of planned community protests.
The meeting brought together officials from the Chief Administrative Officer's office, heads of department, sub-county chiefs, political leaders and representatives from the IGG to discuss allegations of corruption in public service recruitment, particularly within the District Service Commission.
Kayunga District Chairperson Andrew Muwonge attributed the controversy to political interference and personal interests among some stakeholders.
“The problem is largely political interference and individuals pursuing personal interests, which continues to create unnecessary conflict and suspicion around district operations,” Muwonge said.
However, Assistant Resident District Commissioner Umer Mitala challenged the chairman's assertions, arguing that politicians themselves play a central role in constituting the District Service Commission.
“You cannot blame everything on political interference when members of the District Service Commission are appointed by the district chairperson and approved by the council, which is composed of politicians,” Mitala said.
Mitala also questioned why heads of department remain in the same positions for extended periods, unlike Chief Administrative Officers, who are periodically transferred by government.
“Why are heads of department not transferred like CAOs? Some become too comfortable in their positions and end up influencing corruption tendencies within the system,” he said.
According to Mitala, the absence of regular transfers among senior technical officers contributes to patronage networks that undermine merit-based recruitment.
“When recruitment processes are compromised, incompetent civil servants are brought into the system. In the end, it is the public that suffers through poor service delivery,” he added.
The ARDC further faulted the IGG for failing to provide timely feedback on investigations into allegations that jobs within the district were sold to applicants in exchange for money.
He said residents have repeatedly demanded answers over the years, but little information has been made public regarding the progress or outcomes of the investigations.
Several leaders echoed concerns that delays in releasing investigation reports have fuelled public frustration, prompting some community members to mobilise demonstrations demanding accountability.
Responding to the concerns, Crescent Babyetsiza, an official in charge of Research and Learning at the IGG, acknowledged the delays but attributed them to inadequate funding and understaffing. Babyetsiza was presenting a nationwide periodic report covering the period between 2018 and 2022.
The meeting comes as District Service Commission Secretary Dickson Bbosa remains under police investigation over allegations that he received money from several job applicants who were neither shortlisted nor refunded.
Security remained tight throughout the meeting, with anti-riot police deployed around the venue to avert any potential disturbances.
Despite the sharp exchanges and heightened tensions, the meeting ended peacefully, with stakeholders calling for stronger anti-corruption measures, greater transparency in recruitment processes and improved communication from the IGG regarding ongoing investigations.
