Members of Parliament from Namisindwa district want the results from the recent recruitment exercise in the district nullified on allegation of corruption by the district service commission.
Apollo Masika, the Bubulo East MP, says they have written to several government agencies State House Anti-Corruption Unit, Inspectorate of Government, the Public Service Commission, Local Government Ministry and Criminal Investigations Directorate to investigate the recent recruitment.
The Namisindwa Woman Member of Parliament, Canon Grace Namukhula Watuwa, says the entire process was marred with several anomalies. In March the district advertised about 300 jobs.
There has been a widespread complaints of corruption and bribery leveled against members of the district service commission. The legislators have written to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Emmanuel Ofwono, questioning the recruitment process, saying it wasn’t transparency.
Days ago, a mother identified as Annet Nelima collapsed in the CAO’s office after learning that her daughter, Lorna Sulwa hadn’t been shortlisted for the job she applied for even after paying members of the District Service Commission. Ms Sulwa had been volunteering at the district.
Several residents in the district want the LC5 Chairman George William Wopuwa and other officials like Apollo Wapicho, Rose Nekesa and members of the district service commission to resign before investigations can begin.
It is alleged millions of money extorted from Jobseekers in Namisindwa district through the conifers of Wopuwa and Chairperson Service commission respectively. It is alleged the money was raised and sent to Mr Mayeku Lv councillor Namabya subcounty and Mityero who is production officer at the district.
Moses Masaba Kituyi, a resident of the district says the leaders are threatening him and others not to talk about corruption at the district.
“Corrupt officials are calling to tell us to stop this fight with no regard for the real-life consequences.
Thousands of us have come together in the last few days, almost a week plus now to expose the truth about the high level of corruption in Namisindwa. But we’re facing an uphill battle. We’re up against people who don’t want us to speak the truth. And with every day that passes we’re one step closer to winning.Beyond recognition, our jobs are disappearing and our schools and hospitals being plunged into crisis.But we aren’t the kind of people who give up when the going gets tough. With so much on the line we can’t afford to be,” says Kituyi.
Namisindwa District is bordered by Bududa District to the north, Kenya to the east and south, Tororo District to the south-west, and Manafwa District to the west. The district headquarters at Bupoto are located approximately 40 kilometres by road, south-east of Mbale, the largest city of in the sub-region.
Namisindwa District became operational on 1 July 2017. Prior to that the new district was “East Bubulo County” in Manafwa District. The rationale for creating the new district was to bring services closer to the people and create jobs and reduce youth unemployment.
As of August 2015, the district had 80 schools. The district terrain in described as “hilly”, and prone to soil erosion during the rainy season. The gravel roads need frequent maintenance. The Bumbobi–Bubulo–Lwakhakha Road traverses the district in a general northwest to southeast direction.
