Wakiso Workers Decry Delayed Promotions as District Service Commission Remains Absent

What the report says

Nile Post reports that workers in Wakiso District are complaining of stalled promotions, delayed recruitment and unconfirmed appointments because the district does not currently have a functional District Service Commission. The affected employees say the gap has left some staff in the same posts for years, including workers nearing retirement, and they argue that the delays are hurting morale and public service delivery.

According to the report, District Chief Administrative Officer Jude Mark Bukenya addressed the concerns during a meeting with head teachers at Kisimbiri Church of Uganda Primary School. He acknowledged the frustration among employees and said the district is working to restore the commission. Bukenya also reminded supervisors not to exploit the absence of the commission by holding back retirement processing for staff who have reached the mandatory retirement age.

The article says Wakiso has been without a District Service Commission since the term of the previous body expired. That commission had been appointed during the tenure of former District Chairperson Dr Matia Lwanga Bwanika and was later dissolved. In Uganda’s local government system, such commissions are important because they handle human resource decisions such as recruitment, promotions and confirmation of district staff.

Acting District Education Officer Preme Ritah Nanyanzi told Nile Post that schools are facing teacher shortages as retirements have not been matched by new hiring. She said the district is temporarily reviewing schools with low enrolment so some teachers can be moved to schools with larger learner populations. Workers are hoping a reconstituted commission will clear the backlog of staffing decisions.