KCCA recruitment put on hold

By John Masaba and Taddeo Bwambale

Ugandans who have been relentlessly waiting to scoop jobs in Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) may have to wait a little longer due to a shortage of funds to push the exercise to the end.

KCCA looked to recruit over 1,300 workers but the Government has slashed down the funding for the exercise.

Many Ugandans had banked on the Authority’s jobs because of the heavy remunerations which accompany them. This week, the metropolitan body turned away applicants who had turned up for interviews.

KCCA executive director Jennifer Musisi says the Authority will only fill up to 30% of the new staff structure this year due to the funding gap.

KCCA sought to recruit fresh workers in line with the new staff structure which was approved by the public service ministry in March. “Only critical posts will be filled this financial year because no money will be provided by the government for the exercise,” Musisi disclosed.

Out of the sh28b needed by the city body to implement the new structure, the government has only committed sh18b.

The secretary to the treasury, Keith Muhakanizi, in a letter on May 15 to the executive director, stated that government would not provide additional funds to meet staff costs.

Part of the money that was committed is supposed to pay wage arrears of over 1,000 workers of the defunct Kampala City Council.

Muhakanizi directed KCCA to use part of its locally-generated revenue to implement the approved structure, says Musisi.

He also advised that the recruitment can be done in a phased manner, starting with the most critical posts, until additional resources are realized.

The authority has earmarked sh300m to cater for recruitment expenses for new staff in its budget for the 2012/2013 financial year.

Musisi said the absence of funding for recruitment would affect KCCA operations, but said the Authority would strive to increase revenue collections to implement the structure.

The Public Service Commission has started recruitment for 70 different posts. The selection exercise was completed and the lists were ready by June 29.

KCCA was established in 2010 to boost service delivery in the city, but the delay to recruit staff has left Kampala in need of urgent infrastructural revival.

Musisi has consistently complained that the biggest hurdle to her job is thelack of staff to help her execute the numerous challenges facing Kampala city.