Public service image destroyed, says Mitaala

By Henry Sekanjako

The head of Public Service, John Mitala is concerned about the stained image of the ministry which he says has been destroyed as a result of payment of pensioner’s money to ghost pensioners.

“The last six months have dented the image of public service. Our image is dented,” he said.

Mitala, who is also secretary to Cabinet, added that: “One day I was attending a workshop and then a friend of mine asked whether I was the head of thieves. He accused us of eating people’s salaries – then I told him, the salaries are too small.”

He made the pointed references over the weekend at City Royale Hotel, Bugolobi during celebrations at a party for the staff of Health Service Commission.

He said there is need for civil servants to work hard in a bid to restore the image of the sector.

“We need to work together to recover the image of public service,” Mitala remarked.

His remarks follow the on-going investigations by police implicating Public Service officials Jimmy Lwamafa [the permanent secretary], Christopher Obey [principal accountant in charge of pensions], David Oloka and Kenneth Turyomwe, who are both accountants.

Others are Kunsa Kiwanuka, the officer in charge of Research and Planning and Francis Lubega, the IT Manager. The officials allegedly paid sh169bn pension money to ghost pensioners.