Tension has erupted in Wakiso District after councillors accused the district leadership of blocking discussions about the District Service Commission, the body responsible for recruiting public servants.
The dispute arose during a council meeting when the District Speaker,Nasif Najja, reportedly refused to allow debate on the matter, saying the term of the Service Commission had already expired.
Several councillors protested the decision and walked out of the council session in frustration.
One of the councillors, Ivan Mponye Luyombo , said the issue was far from over, warning that councillors would continue pushing for answers.
“This matter has not ended as some people think. We have only just begun pursuing it because the district cannot operate effectively without a Service Commission,” Mponye said.
Other councillors, including Olivia Nalubwama, called on Parliament to amend the Local Government Act to allow the district chairperson and the Chief Administrative Officer to temporarily handle matters related to the Service Commission to avoid similar disruptions in the future.
“We want Parliament to review the law so that when such situations arise, the district chairperson and the CAO can intervene. This will help prevent service delivery gaps,” Nalubwama said.
However, Speaker Nasif Najja insisted that according to the information available, the commission’s term had already expired and that the Ministry of Local Government was aware of the situation.
His stance angered several councillors, including Moses Kaddu ,Kasule Luzzi, who said the council had never agreed to the idea of borrowing a Service Commission from another district.
“Our council has never approved the proposal of borrowing a Service Commission from another district. That decision does not represent the position of this council,” Kaddu said.
Councillor Ali Edris also appealed to the Speaker to reconsider his decision, warning that the district risks losing significant funds meant for recruitment if the commission remains inactive.
“The district stands to lose billions of shillings meant for recruiting staff if the Service Commission remains non-functional. Yet at the moment, many positions in the district remain vacant,” Edris said.
The Wakiso District Service Commission plays a critical role in recruiting, disciplining, and confirming civil servants working under the district local government.