Corruption in Government Job Recruitment Reaches Alarming Levels.

The recruitment process for government jobs in Uganda has been marred by increasing corruption, leaving many qualified candidates disillusioned and frustrated. Sources reveal that bribes, nepotism, and favouritism have become the norm in the hiring process, with some officials demanding huge sums of money in exchange for jobs.

According to whistleblowers, corruption starts from the initial stages of the recruitment process, with some officials tampering with application forms and altering qualifications to favour certain candidates. In some cases, vacancies are not advertised publicly, and jobs are awarded to relatives and friends of high-ranking officials.

The most affected entities are the government ministries, MDAs and local governments where jobs are highly sought after.

Sources reveal that some officials in these entities demand bribes ranging from UGX 2,000,000 to UGX 30 million for a single job opportunity.

"After applying for a given job, some of the managers usually hire agents that call all applicants asking them to speak the Ugandan language of they are to be considered". One victim disclosed

This corruption has led to the appointment of unqualified personnel, compromising the quality of public services. Many qualified candidates have been left out, despite meeting the required qualifications and performing well in interviews.

The Public Service Commission, responsible for overseeing the recruitment process, has been accused of turning a blind eye to these corrupt practices. Sources reveal that some commissioners have been bribed to look the other way, allowing the corruption to continue unchecked.

The government has been urged to take immediate action to address this issue, including implementing a transparent recruitment process and holding accountable those involved in corrupt practices. Until then, the future of public service in Uganda remains uncertain.

Some affected candidates have spoken out, sharing their experiences:

"I was told to pay UGX 2 million to secure a job as a teacher, despite having the required qualifications and performing well in the interview." - Joan Nambatya

"I was shocked when I saw the list of successful candidates, and my name was missing, despite scoring highly in the interview. It was clear that some people had been favoured." - David Kiyimba

The government must take decisive action to address this corruption and ensure a fair and transparent recruitment process, or risk losing the trust of its citizens.