‘Corruption Has No Place in Local Government’: Entebbe Town Clerk Gakyalo Welcomes Ministry’s Recruitment Reforms

What the report says

KIRA, Uganda — Entebbe Municipal Council Town Clerk Emmanuel Gakyalo has endorsed the Ministry of Local Government’s new steps to tighten recruitment in public service, saying the changes are meant to reduce corruption and make hiring more transparent and merit-based. In comments reported by Watchdog Uganda, he said the reforms would help ensure that qualified applicants are selected over those using bribery, political influence or personal connections.

The Ministry’s intervention, issued in a circular dated 3 July 2026, instructed chief administrative officers, city town clerks and municipal town clerks to improve oversight of recruitment within district and city service commissions. According to the ministry, monitoring reports, investigations and public complaints have pointed to irregularities and abuse of office in some local government recruitment exercises, which it said have weakened confidence in Uganda’s decentralised governance system.

Gakyalo praised Permanent Secretary Ben Kumumanya for leading the reforms and said stronger controls would improve accountability and public trust. He also argued that transparent recruitment helps local governments bring in competent staff who can support service delivery in sectors such as roads, health and education.

He urged officials and the public to back the anti-corruption drive by following the new guidelines, refusing to pay bribes and reporting misconduct. The article also noted that Entebbe Municipality has recently recorded development progress and local revenue growth, which Gakyalo said should be protected by cleaner governance practices.