MPs urge ministries to adopt electronic recruitment

Legislators have urged the public service and local government ministries to use electronic recruitment methods.

They believe this will help stem cases of favoritism, bribery, and nepotism reported throughout the recruitment process.

The MPs who are pushing for this approach sit on Parliament's Committee on Public Service and Local Government.

Bardege-Layibi MP Martin Ojara Mapendizi is the chairperson of the committee.

On Friday in Gulu, he told fellow MPs that nepotism, bribery, and corruption are reportedly widespread during recruitment.

According to the committee he chairs, 98.6 percent of the districts in northern Uganda have established an operational district service commission, with the exception of Amudat district.

Amudat has only one member on the service commission, which the committee highlighted is impeding timely recruitment in the district.

However, it has been reported that the district service commission has been compromised by the influence of political leaders and technical staff in other districts.

As a result, the commission's independence and integrity is called into question.

The parliamentary committee suggested that the relevant ministries consider implementing an electronic recruitment policy so that bribery during recruitment is addressed.

"We implore the anti-corruption agencies to intensify their reporting system so that members of the community can timely report any irregularities during recruitment."

Gulu district was also chastised for reportedly promoting junior staff in the education department to serve as the district education officer (DEO) following the retirement of the current DEO.

The parliamentary committee highlighted that the promotion should be based on seniority, qualification, maturity, integrity, and professionalism demonstrated by the individual.

Parliament adjourned this specific motion and determined that the relevant government will respond to it at the appropriate time.