By Weswa Ronnie
NAMISINDWA
Namisindwa District is set to proceed with the recruitment of new staff despite pressure from some councilors who have described the process as illegal.
The positions to be filled include District Natural Resources Officer, District Engineer, District Health Officer, District Planner, Chief Finance Officer, Town Clerk, and District Communications Officer, among others.
According to Jackson Wakwaika, the LCV Chairperson of Namisindwa District, the district had intended to advertise these positions last year. However, the district council blocked the appointment of a new District Service Commission chairperson following the resignation of Grace Watuwa Namukhula, who left the position to join Parlaimentary politics last year.
Wakwaika explained that the district has now resolved to hire a Service Commission from outside Namisindwa to conduct the recruitment process.
He dismissed councilors opposing the move, accusing them of having selfish and unprogressive intentions. He maintained that the exercise will continue whether they support it or not, insisting that the process is legal.
Wakwaika lost the LCV seat to his former youth councilor, Bwayo Emma, by a margin of 21,000 votes in the January 22 elections.
Peter Masayi, one of the district councilors, argued that the district already had a fully-fledged and competent Service Commission. He accused the LCV Chairperson and the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of frustrating the recruitment of heads of department and other key sector leaders.
Masayi further revealed that attempts by councilors to convene a special council meeting to address the matter were rejected by the district executive, which he claims avoided the session.
He stated that there is no emergency or urgency to justify hiring an external commission. According to him, the authority to approve the hiring of an outside Service Commission lies with the district council, not the executive or the CAO acting individually.
Masayi called on leaders to declare their interests in the recruitment process and suggested that, with only three months left before the end of the current term, the district should allow for a smooth transition.
He also accused the LCV Chairperson and other leaders of attempting to place their preferred candidates in key positions without following established public service procedures that require open competition.
He claimed the move is intended to frustrate the incoming leadership.
