KAMPALA – Lawmakers on the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee have quizzed the officials from the Ministry of Public Service for returning to treasury billion of money meant for recruitment staff in various government entities, despite the increasing unemployment in the country.
When the Committee scrutinised the documents from the Ministry of Public Service, lawmakers discovered that there were 469,465 established positions in various government entities of which, only 311,728 filled representing a 66.40% staffing level.
Further, the Committee discovered that the Ministry of Public Service returned to the Treasury, Shs70Bn in 2016/17 and Shs217Bn in 2017/2018 and 2018/19 about Shs86Bn.
The revelation caused protest from lawmakers like Florence Namayanja (Bukoto East) who rejected the delay to carry out recruitment for vacant posts calling upon the Committee to raise a red flag on the delayed recruitment of staff into government jobs in relation to unemployed Ugandans.
Fred Angella (Moroto Municipality) said that the Public Service officials who have failed to recruit workers in vacant posts despite the availability of the funds should be regarded as enemies of the state.
Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Public Service said the money meant for recruiting for the last three financial years was due to late submission of the names of recruited persons by the various government entities.
