KAMPALA – The Parliament’s Appointments Committee has rejected the re-appointment of the Commissioner General of the Uganda Prisons Services (UPS) Dr. Johnson Byabashaija and that of his designated citing constitutional age requirement.
Meetings for the Appointment Committee are held behind closed doors but sources close to the committee proceedings for Monday’s vetting sitting revealed that Dr. Byabashaija’s appointment for another term was rejected on the account of his age, because he is due for retirement.
Dr. Byabashaija is 62 years old yet according to the Public Service standing orders, the age limit for the public servant to be recruited for such a position should be 60 years.
When asked about this hurdle after his vetting, Dr. Byabashaija reasoned that being a contract job, the age issue doesn’t arise.
“I have been in Prisons for long. Actually, this is my 15th year as Commissioner General Prisons. I am 62 years, I work on three year contracts. I retired from Public Service in 2005 and I have been working in Prisons since then, I think they will approve me,” he ssid
Parliament Appointment Committee resolved to write to President Museveni to nominate new appointees, but the committee didn’t only swing the axe towards Dr. Byabashaija, but his dedignate Deputy James Mwanje too, who was also rejected on grounds of being of advanced age.
Parliament’s wrath was also felt by nominees to the Leadership Code Tribunal who include; Irene Karugonjo Segawa who was rejected as Chairperson, Leadership Code Tribunal because she doesn’t possess the requisite qualification for the job that requires a judge or advocate of the High Court.
The others on the Tribunal whose appointment was binned are; Jane Okelowange, Didas Bakunzi Mustasha and Joyce Nalunga Birirmumaso, and on this category, Parliament is set to write to the Judicial Service Commission a body responsible of seconding these names and nominate new members.
The committee chaired by Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Rebecca Kadaga only passed Asuman Kiyinhi, the designated Leadership Code deputy Chairman.
However, it wasn’t only bad news for the nominees like Dr. Atingi-Ego who sailed through as the Deputy Governor of Bank of Uganda and all is left is for the President to confirm his appointment, setting stage for him to replace Dr. Louis Kasekende.
Justice Jane Abodo was also approved as the new DPP replacing Mike Chibita. Ms Abodo and Dr. Atingi-Ego appointments were commended by the committee.
