Members of District Service Commissions in the Kigezi sub-region have been urged to uphold integrity, professionalism, and diligence in the recruitment process to ensure that competent personnel are employed in public service positions and improve service delivery across local governments.
The call was made during a regional meeting held at the Kabale District Boardroom, bringing together Chairpersons and Secretaries of District Service Commissions from across the Kigezi region.
Speaking during the meeting, the Chairperson of the Kabale District Service Commission, Bernard Tumukunde, who hosted the gathering, said the meeting was organized to strengthen collaboration among key stakeholders involved in public service recruitment.
Tumukunde noted that effective service delivery largely depends on the quality of personnel recruited into public offices and emphasized the need for Service Commissions to remain committed to recruiting qualified and competent individuals based strictly on merit.
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The Kabale Chief Administrative Officer, Robert Mugabe, reiterated the district’s commitment to conducting thorough and transparent recruitment processes to ensure that only deserving candidates are appointed to public offices.
Meanwhile, Kabale District Chairperson Denis Nzeirwe Ndyomugyenyi described recruitment as a sensitive process that requires commissioners to exercise the highest levels of professionalism and diligence.
He observed that recruitment exercises often attract intense public interest and pressure, creating opportunities for unscrupulous individuals to pose as middlemen and exploit job seekers by demanding money in exchange for employment opportunities.
Ndyomugyenyi also proposed a review of the current job advertisement model, arguing that relying solely on newspaper advertisements limits access to information for many rural residents. He suggested that local radio stations should also be used to publicize vacancies in order to widen access to employment opportunities.
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The Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Kabale, Michael Muramira Kyakashari, commended District Service Commissions for their work despite operating under challenging conditions and facing numerous allegations and public scrutiny.
Kyakashari said Service Commissions require stronger support from other district stakeholders, including the offices of the RDC, District Chairperson, and Chief Administrative Officer, to effectively execute their mandate.
He urged commissioners to report any individuals who attempt to influence recruitment processes through bribery or other unethical means, saying such actions would help preserve the integrity of public service recruitment.
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