By Our Reporter
NAMISINDWA
The Namisindwa Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Leonard Kitavunja, is under fire for allegedly pushing through irregular staff promotions during the district’s transition period.
The Namisindwa District Service Commission is currently not fully constituted following the resignation of its former chairperson, who stepped down to pursue a political career as a Woman Member of Parliament during the NRM primaries. She lost the race in July 2025.
Despite the incomplete status of the commission, the CAO is reportedly planning to hire the Tororo District Service Commission to fast-track staff promotions and recruitment in Namisindwa.
This move comes just months before the end of the current term and has raised concern among district stakeholders, many of whom have described it as irregular and unnecessary. Critics argue that the process is being conducted through handpicking of beneficiaries rather than following established procedures.
Peter Masayi, the District Councillor for Namboko Sub-county, says the CAO is overstepping his mandate. He explains that the authority to hire an external service commission originates from the district council, especially since it involves financial expenditure.
Masayi notes that council has never discussed or approved such a move at any stage. He has called upon the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government to rein in the CAO and ensure respect for established systems for effective district operations.
The District Speaker, Dorothy Walukawu, says matters concerning the District Service Commission are purely legal and must be handled within the law. She warns that if a technical officer advising council begins acting like a politician making resolutions and implementing them unilaterally then Namisindwa District risks institutional collapse.
Walukawu adds that council had already pronounced itself on recruitment issues after the executive allegedly frustrated the recruitment of heads of department and staff promotions.
Emma Bwayo, the Male Youth Councillor and Chairman-elect, says the district executive has frustrated recruitment and promotion processes for the past five years, even during periods when a fully constituted service commission was in place.
He attributes the current crisis to the CAO, whom he accuses of persisting with illegal actions following earlier mistakes that led to the return of nearly one billion shillings meant for recruitment and promotions to the Treasury.
Bwayo has called on the CAO to declare his interests in what he termed as ongoing scandals and allow for a smooth transition.
When contacted for comment, Leonard Kitavunja confirmed that plans are underway to hire an external service commission to handle recruitment and promotions but declined to comment further.
