government 8 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
MPs Query Shs122 Billion Plan to Hire 6,749 Public Servants Amidst Vacancies
Members of Parliament are scrutinizing the Ministry of Public Service's proposal to allocate Shs122.3 billion for the recruitment of 6,749 new public servants, questioning the move in light of over 300,000 existing vacancies within the service. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/mps-question-shs122b-plan-to-recruit-over-6-500-public-servants-5588512
Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (Central Government) has raised concerns regarding the Ministry of Public Service’s plan to spend Shs122.3 billion on hiring 6,749 new public servants. The committee, chaired by Patrick Nsamba Oshabe, questioned the proposal during a session on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
Officials from the Ministry of Public Service, led by Permanent Secretary Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwire, presented the recruitment plan. They stated that the proposed wage allocation for the 2025/26 financial year is intended to fill critical positions in priority sectors such as primary healthcare, primary education, central government institutions, and urban local governments.
However, the committee members highlighted the significant issue of over 301,600 vacant posts currently existing within the public service. They expressed skepticism about the justification for bringing in new staff when a substantial number of existing roles remain unfilled, suggesting a potential misallocation of resources. The audit queries raised by the Auditor General’s report and the implementation of previous parliamentary review recommendations were also on the agenda for the ministry’s appearance.
The Ministry’s justification for the recruitment drive centers on addressing staffing gaps in essential service delivery areas. Further deliberations are expected as the committee seeks to reconcile the proposed recruitment with the vast number of unfulfilled positions across the public sector.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)