The Mukono District Chairman, Rev. Dr Peter Bakaluba Mukasa, has immediately suspended the duties of the District Service Commission of Voices from the people complaining about the embezzlement of corruption on people by promising those jobs.
Bakaluba said security is not but what happened in Mpigi does not want the stage to take him to Mukono, so he wants to stop these people from investigating them first until the truth is achieved.
“We have tentatively halted the exercises of our District Service Commission for a certain period as we prepare them for some further investigations of how they have been conducting their work. We have been receiving some public outcry and concerned citizens complaining that some people extort money, demand money from them, or commissioners extort money from them, or some people in the public are extorting money from people who are interested in getting jobs.”
He said it was alleged that the chairman of the committee, Eng. Dr Godfrey Kisuule Kibuuka and his people have been making money in four million, three million, two and security, promising them jobs which is against the law. He urged all Mukono residents who have complaints to use this time to come to their offices for help. He also vowed not to sit down and look like a district.
Bakaluba added that as the Chairman of LCV of Mukono District, he definitely couldn't just sleep and pay a deaf ear. He thought it would be prudent with his executive to look through these allegations. If they are factual? Are they correct? Are they true? Or are they just baseless? And that's why they are giving in this time to give themselves time to do some investigation of interest in themselves to see how the District Service Commission is conducting itself.
“We don't want to face a similar scenario like that one which happened in Mpigi, where the Chairperson of LCV and other committee members and the Chairman of the District Service Commission were arrested and now they are facing the courts of law. I thought this would be ample time for us to look through. If there is a genuine complaint, let that person come with facts so that we can make our records clear.”
The chairperson added that it is enough to compel him to hold the exercise for some time until true findings have been reached. However, he noted that he has never received any formal complaint apart from allegations; he just hears allegations, and that's why, at times, he needs to act because they are aware there is smoke, at times they think and say there might be a fire.
Bakaluba emphasises that they have halted their exercise and they are not in office to allow some investigations, internal investigations, and will not disturb and disorganise the service delivery in the District because they are matching with the moving programme of the District Service Commission.
“In this period, there is not much work that we can handle. So that's why we want to be very fast and handle this matter expeditiously. So, gentlemen, we want you to be very quiet at work. The moment they are out of office for some time, I will recall them when some work and investigation has been done, and the expansion will depend on how fast and expeditiously we handle the matter.”
However, the chairperson of the committee, Eng. Dr. Godfrey Kisuule Kibuuka, when contacted about the matter, said he has not received an official statement and is still hearing it in public.
His reply, Bakaluba, is that they have a process of transferring offices from one office to another. So, in the new process, the letter will reach. It goes through the registry; it passes through the right channels. They don’t just write as if you are writing to a girlfriend. Because it has to follow some procedures and records. So, at the moment, the letter is there and it is moving.
Some of the leaders in Mukono district led by youth councillor at Mukono district council, Luben Senyonjo have condemned the move by the chairman and said he did not pass the proper procedures and this restored Mukono in the difficulties he was in three years ago, as well as returning to the morgue for lack of employees.
It should be noted that since 12 March 2022, Mukono has been without a commission due to internal fights, including court battles. Until 9th August 2024, when Mukono District finally got a district Service commission after three years of battle between district chairman Rev Dr Peter Bakaluba Mukasa and former commission chairperson Stella Margaret Kiodo.
On Friday, August 09, the Mukono Chief Magistrate, Rachael Nakyazze, led the swearing-in ceremony of five officers during an event held at the office of the district chairman.
The committee was headed by Chairman Engineer Dr Godfery Kibuuka, Arthur Blick Mugerwa representing people with disabilities and other members, including Idris Semakula and Stella Margaret Kiodo.
On this event, as the new team assumes office, Elizabeth Namanda, the Chief Administrative Officer, said that the district has been facing a shortage of staff, including teachers, head teachers, their deputies, 116 medical Workers, 99 additional traditional staff, health officers and finance officers, and many others.
“ We have lost a lot of money from the prime minister's office through the World Bank due to lack of qualified people in most departments, and last financial year we lost more than 400 million which was for help in the irrigation program which was due to the absence of the Head of the Department of Agriculture.” She noted
Mukono Resident Commissioner Hajjati Fatumah Ndisaba Nabittaka, in her remarks she urged the officials to remain on track and be transparent in their work.
“You are an independent agency, many words have been heard as people complain about these committees in acts of corruption and job selling, I ask you to break this and work and serve without any conditions.”
The Rev Peter Bakaluba Mukasa, the district chairman, challenged the Mukono District Service Commission against reports of discrimination and corruption.
The commission's three-year deficit has led to the collapse of some services, especially in the health and education sectors, and more than billions of rupees have been returned to the national treasury every year 'lack of staff in those positions.
Bakaluba also warned that he will scrutinise the performance of the elected members of the committee to avoid any complaints that could arise to put the district in danger.
Some of the nominees, led by Stella Kiyondo and Godfrey Kibuuka, pledged to use their expertise to provide jobs to the deserving ones without bias or corruption.
