Service delivery in Mukono District has nearly ground to a halt following the prolonged paralysis of three crucial statutory bodies — the District Service Commission (DSC), the District Land Board (DLB), and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) — whose inactivity has crippled governance for close to four years.
The collapse of these bodies has led to severe delays in staff recruitment, land management, and financial accountability. As a result, schools remain without teachers, hospitals are understaffed, and key administrative offices — including those of the Chief Finance Officer and District Physical Planner — are vacant.
According to the District Council, more than Shs 2 billion meant for salaries and service delivery in the 2023/2024 financial year was returned to the central government because the affected departments could not function.
The crisis came to light during a heated council sitting where Councilor for the Elderly, Asuman Muwumuza, tabled a motion demanding clarity on why the statutory committees remain nonfunctional.
“Madam Speaker, this council cannot deliberate on matters of accountability, land management, or recruitment when these statutory bodies are not functioning,” Muwumuza said. “We are mandated by the people of Mukono to ensure proper governance and administration, yet we are being frustrated.”
Muwumuza cited provisions of the Local Governments Act and the Rules of Procedure (2019), arguing that the council cannot effectively perform its oversight role without these bodies in place.
District Speaker Betty Hope Nakasi, who chaired the session, confirmed that the DSC’s operations had been suspended following corruption allegations.
“The Commission resumed operations briefly and recruited 130 officers, but none received appointment letters,” Nakasi revealed. “Later, we received a letter from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit halting their activities over claims of bribery in job recruitment.”
She added that a similar situation had paralyzed the District Land Board after the secretary allegedly locked the office and disappeared with the keys, stalling all land transactions in the district.
Responding to the queries, Chief Administrative Officer Elizabeth Namanda acknowledged the disruptions but attributed the delays to ongoing investigations and logistical challenges.
“Indeed, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit directed me not to issue appointment letters due to ongoing investigations into the Service Commission,” Namanda said. “We also have challenges with office space and administrative indiscipline in some departments, but we are handling them.”
Namanda revealed that a temporary office and acting secretary had been identified to restore the Land Board’s operations.
District LC V Chairperson Rev. Dr. Peter Bakaluba Mukasa defended the administration, noting that the district leadership was fully cooperating with investigators to ensure accountability.
“We have evidence that some individuals acted as middlemen and collected money from job seekers. It is painful,” Bakaluba said. “Investigations are ongoing, and some officials, including members of the District Service Commission, may soon face arrest. We cannot rush to reinstate operations until the process is complete.”
Bakaluba also revealed that the PAC had been inactive for months due to the absence of its chairperson, who travelled abroad for medical treatment.
“We are working with the Ministry of Local Government (Uganda) and the Inspectorate of Government (Uganda) to restore normalcy,” he added. “We want Mukono District to remain corruption-free and functional.”
Speaker Nakasi ruled that a comprehensive report be tabled at the next council sitting detailing the causes of the paralysis and recommending immediate restoration of operations.
“We cannot continue operating in darkness,” she said. “The people of Mukono deserve efficient service delivery, not excuses. The responsible officers must act with urgency.”
Meanwhile, local leaders including Zaid Ssali, Vice Chairperson of Mukono Central Division, and Councilor Wilberforce Tebyasa, expressed deep concern over the prolonged suspension of the committees. They called on the Inspectorate of Government and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to expedite their investigations.
Looming Administrative Crisis
The three statutory bodies are at the heart of district governance:
- District Service Commission (DSC): oversees recruitment and promotion of public servants.
- District Land Board (DLB): manages public land allocations and disputes.
- Public Accounts Committee (PAC): ensures financial accountability.
Councilors warned that continued dormancy of these institutions could plunge Mukono into a deeper administrative crisis.
“If these committees remain dormant, Mukono will sink into an administrative crisis,” Nakasi concluded. “We must act now before the damage becomes irreversible.”
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