EC Chiefs ‘Employ Relatives’

Mar 13, 2002

ELECTORAL commissioners have been employing their relatives and disregarding recruitment procedures, the parliamentary elections probe committee has heard.

By Hamis Kaheruand Okello JabweliELECTORAL commissioners have been employing their relatives and disregarding recruitment procedures, the parliamentary elections probe committee has heard.Committee member Avitas Tibarimbasa (Ndorwa East) disclosed this yesterday during Electoral Commission (EC) Secretary Sam Rwakoojo’s testimony.Tibarimbasa said the committee had information that Commissioner Ted Wamusi had recruited his two sons, one a registrar and another a driver.He said the deputy EC chairperson, Mrs. Flora Nkurukenda, also recruited her sister as a secretary.Rwakoojo said he was not aware of anybody who had recruited a relative. “In our situation in Uganda, it is extremely difficult to know who is related to who. At least I don’t have a Wamusi or Nkurukenda. I know who is working there,” he said.“We have close to 1,000 employees and about 500 are full-time employees. I have not had an extra look at records but I will go back and find out,” Rwakoojo said.He wondered whether it was unlawful for people related to commissioners to work at the EC.“Are we saying a commissioner having a relative is illegal. I need to be guided,” he said.The Commission’s acting Head of Human Resources, Edward Kayemba, denied allegations that EC officials sexually exploit young girls recruited for part-time evening jobs. Charles Bakabulindi (Workers) said the committee had information that Commission officials prefer “young beautiful girls” when recruiting.The Committee directed Kayemba to furnish it with a breakdown of the Commission’s workforce, stating the post, age, gender, district of origin, religion and years of service. Milton Kanziri, the Head of Procurement, stunned the Committee when he revealed that he was not a member of the Commission’s Contracts (Procurement) Committee.Ends

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