Prime
Government seeks to ban burials on weekdays, cites absenteeism
Mr Mitala (L) compares notes with the Public Service Permanent Secretary, Mr Jimmy Lwamafa, at the National Leadership Training Institute, Kyankwanzi, on Monday after opening the Public Officers early leadership development programme. PHOTO BY STEPHEN OTAGE.
KYANKWANZI
The Head of the Civil Service, Mr John Mitala, on Monday advised all civil servants at an ongoing retreat to apply and plan for their 10-day mandatory compassionate leave to avoid being punished for absenteeism under a new regulation to be enforced soon.
He also warned that the government may soon borrow the Kenyan model of banning funerals during working days because of the growing practice within the Civil Service where public officials have turned burials and funerals into an excuse to keep away from office for days even when the purported dead relatives are not close enough to warrant them attend the funerals.
“We might be forced to go the Kenya way. I hope you are aware that in Kenya there are no burials during week days. Apply for your compassionate leave at the beginning of the year and plan how to use it accordingly,” Mr Mitala said, adding that workers have a tendency of claiming to attend burials but instead end up attending a string of other funerals.
“You find somebody saying they are going to Fort Portal and the next time you hear they are in Hoima or Kanungu because they have lost a string of relatives,” he told a group of public officers attending a two-week early leadership development programme for public service leaders at the National Leadership Institute, Kyankwanzi.
The head of Civil Service said the practice is tantamount to indiscipline because government has allocated female employees 75 working days for their maternity leave and four to the male employees which seem not to be appreciated. The training is aimed at entrenching the culture expected of serving public officers among newly-recruited civil servants.
Mr Mitala warned them against the peer pressure of weddings which is growing among the young generation where they plan for lavish weddings even when they do not have enough resources ,thereby falling into the trap of financial embarrassment.
“You find somebody saying he wants six black benzes all left-hand-drive, even when they do not have enough money at their disposal and they start bombarding you with messages to attend their wedding meetings. Get your priorities right and avoid the temptation of becoming rich through bribery,” he advised the recruits.
The public servants, who had been drawn from more than 20 government ministries, were recently recruited and are expected to monitor government projects across the country. The Ministry of Works and Transport presented the most number of participants (about 25).
