Mukono staff recruitment fails due to lack of DSC
Apr 24, 2024
Mukono's Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Elizabeth Namanda, declared that the accounting officer's role did not include selecting DSC members
Mukono's Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Elizabeth Namanda during the Public Accounts Committee. (Photos by Miriam Namutebi)
Hope Mafaranga
Journalist @New Vision
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The local administration of Mukono district has been unable to hire employees since the District Service Commission (DSC) isn't fully operational.
During their appearance before the Public Accounts Committee-Local Government on (April, 24th 2024), members of the committee led by the Butambala woman MP Betty Naluyima learned that DSC needs one member to hire new workers.
Mukono's Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Elizabeth Namanda, declared that the accounting officer's role did not include selecting DSC members.
"I am not responsible for selecting DSC members. The public service has the responsibility to locate and hire DSCs," the speaker stated.
In addition, it was stated that four members had been appointed and had picked up their letters of appointment; just one member had not received one, pending the auditor general's recommendation.
Naluyima was incensed by the CAO's statement, claiming that it was a calculated attempt to refuse Mukono services to the public.
"You have refused Mukono resident's services based only on the absence of one person from the commission. According to Naluyima, a quorum of four members is sufficient to hire employees so that the district can provide services to the community.
Unutilized funds
The committee also learned that, of the shillings 68.58 billion made available this fiscal year, the Mukono district local government only realized sh66.56b, leaving unutilized warrants totaling sh2.02b, or 97% of the total.
According to the auditor general's assessment, this led to tension, anxiety, and financial difficulties that hurt employee morale and productivity.
"The consequent discontent may show up as decreased motivation and a rise in absenteeism, which ultimately impacts the provision of services to members of the community," the report stated.
Failure to collect local revenue
The district had projected to collect shillings 3.35 billion this financial year but only collected shillings 1.9 billion.
The committee assigned the CAO the responsibility of outlining the steps she has taken to increase local revenue as well as her plans to close any budgetary gaps so that she may carry out and support initiatives that were intended to be financed by local revenue.
Additionally, it was found that certain sub-counties were collecting cash irregularly through the use of receipt books, which was impeding the adoption of the Integrated Revenue Administration System (IRAS).
"The district suffers a financial loss when local revenue is not realized, which hurts providing services to the community." The report stated that management's unwillingness to implement the regulation was the reason for this.
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