A report carried out by Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE) a non- Government organization, an independent Public Policy research and advocacy think tank based in Kampala revealed a number of issues that have hindered effective performance at the District Service Commissions (DSC).
According to the ACODE report, allegations of corruption and bribery by the members of DSC’s who extort money from job applicants in local government are overwhelming. The report further states that secretaries to the commission are the most corrupt and prone to asking for a bribe.
“Secretaries at the DSC’s are the most alleged corrupt persons, and whether they do it with the knowledge of their bosses and share the money no one knows,” the ACODE report states.
In 2021, Bugiri district service commission came under the spotlight over irregularities in the recruitment process of over 70 jobs that had been advertised and no chances were given to qualified personnel but were later given to unqualified candidates.
Four commissioners of the district service commission wrote to the Ministry of public service and Chief Administrative Officer, accusing the acting secretary of Bugiri District service commission being behind the irregularities.
According to Phoebe Namukobe, an applicant at Muyuge district Service Commission, in order to be shortlisted one is required to pay some money; once interviews are completed another payment is required to secure the job.
However, Namukobe further revealed that there is no grantee that once you pay you get the job, since even people who never appeared for the interviews also come and offer their bribes to acquire those jobs.
“It does not matter whether you paid at the start of the application process, the highest bidder takes it all, and at this point no qualifications are required, it is the money that speaks,” said Namukobe.
One is therefore not wrong to say, districts have failed to perform to perfection due to the underhandedness involved in the recruitment process, as it clearly indicates the persons that buy the jobs are not qualified to perform the duties that the job requires.
