By URN
The Hoima District local government is grappling with challenges in recruiting workers for key positions due to the lack of a functional service commission. The term of office for the current members of the district service commission expired in December last year.
Since then, the district has not instituted a new service commission. This absence has significantly impacted the recruitment of staff to head key departments, frustrating effective service delivery to residents. Several departments, particularly in education and health, have gaps that need to be filled with key staff. However, due to the absence of a service commission, many positions remain vacant.
Residents and leaders state that the absence of a service commission has hindered appropriate service delivery in the district. The failure to constitute a service commission has been attributed to confusion among district political leaders.
According to district information, the health department has a gap of about 102 health workers. Several positions, such as District Health Officer (DHO), District Education Officer (DEO), District Water Engineer, and District Engineer, lack substantive appointees and are instead filled by acting officers.
Emmanuel Ssempala, the Hoima Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), explains that most of the staff at the district are in acting positions.
Uthman Kadir Mugisa, the Hoima LCV Chairperson, admits that the absence of the district service commission has frustrated appropriate service delivery. He, however, says that the district would constitute a functional service commission in the next council meeting.
Dr. Lawrence Baluku, the in-charge of Kigorobya Health Center IV, notes that the lack of a district service commission has prevented the recruitment and deployment of an anesthetic technician to operate the facility’s theater. This has crippled health service delivery to residents.
Patrick Musinguzi, a resident of Kigorobya Town Council, has appealed to district officials to borrow the services of another service commission to ensure workers are recruited and appropriate service delivery is provided to residents.
Wilberforce Onyuthi, a resident of Buseruka Sub County, reports that several officers are in acting positions, which has affected service delivery. He has appealed to the district to expedite the process of constituting a new service commission to formalize worker appointments.
The District Service Commission derives its mandate from Article 200 of the Constitution of Uganda (1995) as amended and Section 55(1) to (8) of the Local Government Act, Cap. 243. The power to appoint persons to hold or act in any office in the service of a district or urban council, including the power to confirm appointments, exercise disciplinary control, and remove persons from office, is vested in the District Service Commission, except for the Chief Administrative Officers, Deputy Chief Administrative Officers, Town Clerks, and Deputy Town Clerks of cities and municipalities, who are appointed by the Public Service Commission.
