As Uganda joins the rest of the world to celebrate the International Labour Day that falls on May 1, Ugandan civil servants have been urged to show respect, be patriotic and pursue public interest at all times as they serve citizens.
This year’s celebration will be he held in Sembabule District under the theme, ““Promoting the Public Spirit in the Public Sector”.
The day is commemorated in honour of the contribution of workers to national development. It is also used to heighten both national and international consciousness on the importance of promoting and protecting the rights of workers.
Given that rights go hand in hand with responsibilities, this day has also increasingly been used as an occasion to remind workers of their responsibilities and obligations, says the Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development (MGLSD).
According to MGLSD, The public spirit refers to loving or caring for the nation the way an ordinary person loves or cares for their personal interests.
“Public spirited persons identify themselves with the interests of the nation and make those interests their own. Similarly, a public-spirited person shields the nation from anything that can harm it,” the ministry says.
The choice of the theme, according to the ,ministry was informed by the fact that whereas public servants like all workers seek employment as a means to a livelihood, they also have an over-arching obligation to serve and act in the public interest.
The ministry opines that public servants have a primary responsibility to pursue the public interest. This sets them apart from workers in the private sectors.
“Therefore, the notion of the public interest serves as part of their corporate mission,” it says.
Unlike employees in a private firm who may be required to pursue the firm’s interests, the ministry says public servants are… expected to put the public interest ahead of their own when exercising their powers.
“Placing citizens at the forefront of public service requires a fundamental change in mindset of public officials. This requires reforms that target changing the values, behaviours as well as the technical capacity of public servants with a view of deepening motivation and instilling the public spirit,” reads a synopsis of this year’s National Labour Day celebrations.
On many occasions public officials in Uganda have in the pursuit of private or personal interest compromised the public good or interest. As a result, planning and implementation of many government programmes and projects has been compromised. This has not only cost the public treasury resources but has also left the ordinary citizens without the much needed services.
Besides, officials say, failure to promote public interest in the public service undermines the performance of the private sector which is a key driver of economic growth.
“The history of development further teaches us that failure to reign in on the pursuit of personal interest at the expense of the public good slows down the socioeconomic transformation of a country,” they add.
They thus urge public officials to ensure that the objectives and outcomes of their decisions are in the public interest. “Similarly, the processes adopted and procedures followed by decision-makers in exercising their discretionary powers should also be in the public interest.”
