Agago council rejects five District service Committee nominees, delays recruitment of critical staff

29 September 2026, 10:31 am

By Geoffrey Okwong

Agago District Council has rejected a proposal to approve five new members of the District Service Commission, deepening a dispute over the procedure used to constitute the commission and potentially delaying the recruitment of critical staff in the district.

The decision was reached during the district’s first council meeting of the financial year on Monday, September 28, after councillors debated the five nominees presented by LCV Chairperson Wilson Otto.

According to Speaker Ivan Oyet Odongpiny, 34 councillors voted against immediate approval of the nominees, while nine supported their approval.

Oyet said councillors wanted more time to study the backgrounds and qualifications of the nominees before committing themselves to a four-year term.

He said the decision was not necessarily an objection to the individuals themselves but reflected concerns among councillors that they did not have sufficient information about the proposed commissioners.

“They want to be sure about who is in the Service Commission for the four years,” Oyet said.

The Speaker said he had subsequently called a special council meeting for next week, which will focus specifically on constituting the District Service Commission.

The dispute comes at a critical time for the district because the previous commission’s term expired on September 25.

Under the Local Governments Act, District Service Commissions are responsible for appointing people to offices in the service of a district or urban council, including confirming appointments and exercising disciplinary control over local government staff.

District Secretary for Finance and Administration Alexander Okidi warned that continued delay could affect recruitment and service delivery.

Okidi said Agago returned Shs650 million to the central treasury during the previous financial year because the district could not recruit health workers for Patongo Health Centre IV.

He said the facility currently has about 30 staff against an expected 130, and the district is seeking the return of the money to facilitate recruitment.

But he said the money could remain unused if the DSC is not constituted.

Okidi also said about Shs3 billion in wage funds is currently available for staff whose positions became vacant through retirement and death.

The district, he added, has also been allocated another Shs500 million in the current financial year for recruitment in the production department, including extension workers to support farmers.

He cited Kalompi Primary School, where he said the teacher-to-pupil ratio is approximately one teacher to 400 pupils.

Okidi argued that the consequences of delaying the DSC would ultimately be felt by residents who depend on government health, education and agricultural services.

The Local Governments Act assigns the District Service Commission the authority to appoint staff in the district and urban council public service, making its functioning central to local government recruitment.

LCV Chairperson Wilson Otto defended the five nominees, saying they were qualified and that the proposed composition took into account different sections of the district.

Otto said the nominees included representation for an urban council and persons with disabilities and possessed academic qualifications including degrees and postgraduate diplomas.

He said the council debate did not raise specific concerns about the nominees’ integrity or academic qualifications.

Otto said he accepted the decision to defer approval and expected to present the same nominees again at the next council meeting.

He expressed confidence that the council would eventually approve them.

However, councillor Zanzibar Yamukolo said his opposition to immediate approval was based on the procedure surrounding the replacement of the previous commission, rather than opposition to the five individuals.

Yamukolo referred to an earlier council decision involving Dr Celestino Ayo, whom he said had previously been approved as a member and chairperson of the DSC.

He questioned whether there had been clear formal communication from the Public Service authorities revoking the earlier appointment.

Yamukolo said he was concerned that approving new nominees without resolving the status of the previous appointments could expose the district to litigation.

He said councillors needed clear documentation explaining the basis for replacing the earlier nominees before proceeding.

Yamukolo also disagreed with geographical balancing being used as the principal justification for the proposed composition, saying qualifications, integrity and ability to perform the commission’s functions should be central considerations.

Oyet said councillors had asked the chairperson to provide them with fuller information about the nominees before the next meeting.

He said the council needed to know the nominees’ backgrounds and credentials so that members could make an informed decision.

The Speaker described the next meeting as urgent because the absence of a functional DSC is affecting the district’s ability to recruit staff.

The Local Governments Act requires district councils to appoint a DSC within three months after the expiry of its previous term, while the Ministry responsible for local governments is required to enforce compliance.

The Public Service Commission is also constitutionally mandated to guide and coordinate District Service Commissions.

For now, the five nominees remain unapproved, with the council expected to reconsider the matter at a special meeting next week.

The outcome could determine whether Agago proceeds with planned recruitment in health, education and production or faces further delays in filling vacant positions.