Appoint on merit
Nov 12, 2002
MEMBERS OF Parliament on Monday rejected the nomination of Hajati Aisha Lubega, the headmistress of Nabisunsa School, as a member of Electoral Commission. However the Appointments Committee approved the other names submitted to them including the chairman
MEMBERS OF Parliament on Monday rejected the nomination of Hajati Aisha Lubega, the headmistress of Nabisunsa School, as a member of Electoral Commission. However the Appointments Committee approved the other names submitted to them including the chairman Dr Badru Kiggundu, Dean of Technology at Makerere.
Primarily the MPs felt uncomfortable that Lubega’s husband is the chairman of the Education Service Commission. They said it was not transparent to have two family members on public commissions and that official jobs should be shared out more widely.
Some MPs were against Lubega because her brother is a Resident District Commissioner saying that the new Electoral Commission should be more broad-based.
President Museveni now has to decide whether to accept or to reject the recommendations of the Appointments Committee concerning Hajati Lubega.
No one has questioned the personal integrity of Lubega. Everyone agrees that she is a first class candidate for the post. The only problem is her husband and her brother.
This is discriminatory.
If we have good people willing to serve in public office, are they going to be struck out of contention just because they have relatives in high places?
The MPs seems to believe that public office is a cake to be shared out among the elite. But if appointments are not made on merit, then officials feel entitled to ‘eat’ after they take office. The end result is corruption and poor performance.
President Museveni should ignore the recommendation of the Appointments Committee and proceed to appoint Hajati Lubega as an Electoral Commissioner if he feels that she merits the job on the basis of her personality and track record.
Ends
Primarily the MPs felt uncomfortable that Lubega’s husband is the chairman of the Education Service Commission. They said it was not transparent to have two family members on public commissions and that official jobs should be shared out more widely.
Some MPs were against Lubega because her brother is a Resident District Commissioner saying that the new Electoral Commission should be more broad-based.
President Museveni now has to decide whether to accept or to reject the recommendations of the Appointments Committee concerning Hajati Lubega.
No one has questioned the personal integrity of Lubega. Everyone agrees that she is a first class candidate for the post. The only problem is her husband and her brother.
This is discriminatory.
If we have good people willing to serve in public office, are they going to be struck out of contention just because they have relatives in high places?
The MPs seems to believe that public office is a cake to be shared out among the elite. But if appointments are not made on merit, then officials feel entitled to ‘eat’ after they take office. The end result is corruption and poor performance.
President Museveni should ignore the recommendation of the Appointments Committee and proceed to appoint Hajati Lubega as an Electoral Commissioner if he feels that she merits the job on the basis of her personality and track record.
Ends