The Uganda Local Governments Association (ULGA) has cautioned against proposals to recentralize recruitment of public servants, warning that the move would weaken decentralization and slow down service delivery.
ULGA Secretary General Richard Okuku said the country’s decentralization policy is founded on bringing power and services closer to the people, a goal that would be undermined if local governments lose authority over hiring in key sectors.
‘Uganda’s decentralization policy is about bringing power and services closer to the people. If we take away recruitment from local governments, we risk reversing those gains,’ Mr Okuku said.
The association acknowledged concerns surrounding some District and City Service Commissions, including allegations of bribery, nepotism, political interference, manipulation of recruitment processes, and delays in appointments.
ULGA emphasized that such acts are illegal and should be investigated and punished.
However, the body maintained that these challenges should not justify transferring recruitment powers back to the central government.
‘The answer to abuse is not to take recruitment away from local governments, but to strengthen institutions, enforce integrity, and improve transparency,’ Mr Okuku said.
District and City Service Commissions are responsible for recruiting staff who deliver essential services, including teachers, health workers, engineers, and administrative personnel.
ULGA noted that weakening these commissions would directly affect service delivery across the country’s 145 local governments.
He warned that shifting recruitment to the Public Service Commission could lead to delays, reduced responsiveness, and an overburdened central system.
‘Recentralization may appear to offer uniformity, but it risks creating a slower and more distant system that does not respond to local needs,’ he said.
ULGA also argued that corruption would not necessarily be eliminated by moving recruitment to the centre.
‘Moving recruitment to the centre does not guarantee that corruption will end. It may instead become less visible and harder for citizens to challenge,’ he said.
To address existing challenges, the association proposed reforms including proper vetting and training of commission members, digitization of recruitment processes, and improved transparency in job advertisements, shortlisting, and interviews.
It also called for stronger oversight mechanisms, protection of whistle-blowers, and clear separation of roles among district councils, Chief Administrative Officers, and Town Clerks.
ULGA urged government, Parliament, and oversight institutions to support reforms that strengthen decentralisation rather than reverse it.
‘District and City Service Commissions should be strengthened, not abolished; cleaned, not condemned; supervised, not suffocated,’ Mr. Okuku said.
The debate comes amid ongoing discussions on improving accountability and efficiency in public service delivery across Uganda.