KCCA directors’ appointment blocked

Daily Monitor has established that the KCCA executive director, Ms Jennifer Musisi, wrote to PSC early this year asking them to appoint four employees in senior positions.
These positions fell vacant following the resignation of some employees from the institution, leaving seniority gaps which Ms Musisi sought to fill.

However, the PSC declined to appoint the directors on grounds that the executive director had not submitted critical details of the proposed employees as per the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders.
“… you are requested to provide Authority’s clearance to fill the posts, approved job descriptions and person specifications from the Ministry of Public Service, seniority lists for each post and appointment and confirmation letters from all applicants,” reads in part the letter dated January 29.

Formal communication
The letter was signed by the PSC’s Principal of Human Resource, Mr Andrew Mujungu, on behalf of Dr Geoffrey Mbabazi, the PSC secretary.

The letter was also copied to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service. The blocked directors include; Martin Ssekajja, Janet Luzinda, Julius Kabugo and Samuel Serunkuuma.

Mr Sekajja, who currently works in the KCCA’s Information Technology department, sought to be appointed as Director of IT. Ms Luzinda, who currently works as the Acting deputy director of Human Resource and Administration sought to be appointed full deputy director. Mr Kabugo is the current KCCA Acting director of Treasury Service but he had sought to be appointed full director. He replaced Mr Daniel Kyambadde who resigned last year.

Mr Serunkuuma is the current KCCA’s Acting deputy executive director. He replaced Dr Judith Tukahirwa, who resigned in 2016.
Mr Frank Musingwire, the deputy secretary of PSC, told Daily Monitor yesterday on phone that Ms Musisi is yet to submit the requirements which the Commission asked from her.

“I haven’t seen a letter in that regard from the KCCA executive director,” he said.
Kampala Affairs minister Beti Olive Kamya said PSC had asked for more details about KCCA directors whom she had recommended for appointment.

“The commission did ask for more details about the directors but the executive director is yet to submit them,” she said.
But sources at KCCA alleged that the executive director just picked a few people to be appointed by PSC without internally advertising the said vacancies, arguing that it raises many questions.

Mr Peter Kaujju, the KCCA’s director of Public and Corporate Affairs, acknowledged that names of employees were sent to PSC but he declined to delve into details, saying “staff matters aren’t supposed to be discussed with third parties”.
Ms Musisi could not be reached for a comment as she is in Oxford attending a conference.

Majority in acting positions
The Daily Monitor understands that majority of KCCA employees are serving in Acting capacity, while some positions are not filled.
For instance, the directorates of Revenue, Legal Affairs, Treasury services and Public health have Acting directors and deputy directors respectively. Some of these have been serving in Acting capacity for more than a year now.

Ms Catherine Musingwire, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service said that “government officials supposed to be only six months according to public service standing orders”.

Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago said a report by PAC is yet to be tabled before council for discussion.
“KCCA staff structure is one of the sticking issues in that report and I did mention last month that 700 employees didn’t pass through proper channels,” he said.

While appearing before the institution’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in March this year, Ms Musisi revealed that of 1,133 current staff at KCCA, only 391 are permanent while 742 are temporary.

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