Over 15000 apply for 124 public service jobs

A total of 15500 candidates have applied for 124 public service jobs under the Public Service Commission's graduate recruitment exercise (GRE) for the financial year 2016/17.

The commission chairperson, Justice Ralph Ochan, disclosed that in March that the commission ran adverts containing various posts for entry level positions targeting fresh graduates, thus attracting such a big number of applicants.

Out of the 15,500 candidates, only 9,056 candidates were shortlisted.

"At the close of last month the commission was overwhelmed with the number of applicants. After a shortlisting exercise which resulted into 9,056 candidates being qualified for the aptitude test due on Thursday," he said.

Ochan said Government currently has only 124 jobs available for unemployed fresh graduates in the country.

"We are now in the process of conducting a selections exercise to recruit suitable candidates to fill 124 vacancies," he said.

While addressing journalists at the commission on Wednesday, Ochan said they will be guided by integrity, transparency, meritocracy, fairness and impartiality.

"The aptitude test will be conducted at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole. Selected candidates are urged to keep time," he said.

He stressed that breastfeeding mothers with babies below six months and persons with disabilities will be given special treatment.

The principal assistant secretary to the commission, Milton Mwesigye, warned the public that public service jobs are free and not for sale.

"Any cases of people purporting to offer help to candidates should be reported to the secretary of the commission or the Police," he said.

He warned that all kinds of examination malpractices shall lead to automatic disqualification of candidates.

The posts include; assistant secretary, human resource officers, national content officers, registrar of titles, social development officers, management analyst, women in development, procurement officers, inventory management officer, communication officer, records officer, state attorney, public relations officer and policy analyst.

Others are estate officer, engineer, clerk of works, licensing officer, road safety officer, government analyst, agricultural officer, wetlands officer, systems administrator, network administrator, information technology officer, hydrogeologist, physical planner, government valuer, staff cartographer, staff surveyor, housing officer, environment officer, water officer, cooperative officer, ICT officer, industrial officer, statistician and economist.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Gender about 400,000 youth are released into the job market annually to compete for 9,000 available jobs.

Government has also come up with various ventures like Operation Wealth Creation and Youth Livelihood Program to support creating employment and improve people's livelihood.