The recently recruited migration officers have been asked to maintain discipline while working in their line office.

Because they work with so many unknown individuals, Commissioner of Citizenship and Passport Control Brig. Gen. Johnson Namanya highlighted that discipline is essential in the workplace.

The most crucial factors, according to him, are respect, hard work, integrity and teamwork.

“I don’t expect you to lack those, but in the event that you have forgotten one, it should not be discipline because you are dealing with people who have gone to school like you,” he says.

Macelino Bwesigye Assistant Commissioner Immigration Control interacting with Johnson Namanya Director Immigration after a meeting at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. (Photo by Nancy Nanyonga)

“The people you are serving, you do not know them. Some of them are from the Prime Minister’s Office, President’s Office and all of them are very big. The big, the small, the medium, treat them all equally,” he adds.

Namanya was speaking to the new recruits in preparation for their two-month intake and training at Kabalye Police Training School in Masindi, at the Ministry of Internal Affairs on September 7, 2023.

Only 57 of the 13,750 applications made the cut.

The 62-day training will take place between September 9 and November 10, 2023.

“You joined one of the best organisations in the Government. The way you see us smart in uniform physically is the way we would want smart brains, is the way we would want methods of work,” he added.

Namanya, who was representing the internal affairs ministry permanent secretary, Lt. Gen. Joseph Musanyufu, stated that they anticipate the new officers to exhibit a high degree of professionalism.

“You are from various areas including the private sector, which is very good. We need a private sector approach in terms of service delivery not treating your clients like rubbish. In the private sector, if you don’t treat them well, you will not have a market and the company will collapse,” he added.

He exhorted them to consider how they could offer value to the table.

The recruits were instructed to leave their phones at home and, for the ladies, to chop off their hair in order to reduce distractions during the two-month training session.

He explained that the two-month training is solely intended to test their physical stamina, emotional stability and other traits.

The ministry seeks to improve services at all 67 border points and passport offices inside and outside the nation, according to the ministry's public relations officer, Simon Mundeyi.

The newly recruited immigration officers, he says, may be stationed at some of the gazetted border points to improve services.

“In actuality, we sought to recruit 1,000 officers, but this was not feasible. However, the recruitment process will continue. We have a lot of border points to control, as well as passport offices. To provide better services, all of these officers are required,” he continued.

In order to reduce the backlog of passport applications, the Ministry of Internal Affairs last week sent a team of immigration officers to the Abu Dhabi passport office in the United Arab Emirates.

Officials from Ministry of Internal Affairs and new recruits pose for a group photo after a meeting at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. (Photo by Nancy Nanyonga)

Principal human resource officer Elias Mparana indicated that all new recruits will receive a salary scale of U4 (sh601,341/=), which is entry-level for a degree level, during their six-month probationary term.

“Even those with PhDs, and Masters degrees, will be paid the same for the first-degree level. The payment starts this month. But we are still pushing a salary enhancement,” he added.

He clarified that the six months will help the ministry evaluate the performance of recruits so that they can be confirmed or terminated.

Josephine Akello, the principal immigration officer in charge of training, urged the trainees to maintain their focus and think positively.

Celia Bamwonjobora, the assistant commissioner human resource, advised the new recruits to put forth a lot of effort and meet the ministry's expectations.

“We need hardworking people to manage the different stations and border points. Talk positively about your country and yourself. If you start negative talk, you can’t make it,” she added.

One of the recruits, 30-year-old Vian Wodera, ran short of words for getting recruited.

“I even have no words to express my happiness to find that I am among the 57 listed out of over 10,000 applicants. It is just quite emotional for me and I feel like shedding tears because it was quite tough for me but God has seen me this far,” he said.