Panic as public service reviews KCCA jobs

KAMPALA- Majority of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) employees with temporary contracts have been thrown into panic following the ongoing review of all jobs within the institution by the Public Service Commission (PSC), Daily Monitor has learnt.
Some of the employees who intimated to this newspaper but declined to be named, noted that they are worried because the review exercise might see them kicked out of the system since they have temporary contracts.
“I can’t predict whether I will remain working here [KCCA] or not because I am told that Public Service now plans to streamline the entire system in the institution through restructuring,” said a manager who is currently on a two-year contract.
Ms Beti Olive Kamya, the Minister for Kampala Affairs confirmed the review of KCCA jobs on Monday.

She also revealed that the PSC will this week give her a report about the current employment structure of KCCA upon which she will take action.
“I asked for a report from the executive director about the current job structure at KCCA and she gave it to me. I later handed the same report to Public Service Commission to evaluate and review the jobs. I have been informed by Public Service that the report will be ready this week and as soon as I get it, I will immediately take action,” Ms Kamya said.
She noted that although 300 people had got jobs at KCCA through PSC in 2012, KCCA has never absorbed them, claiming there is no money.

However, Ms Kamya explained there are irregularities in the management of KCCA human resource department which she said the Kampala ministry is evaluating.

“It’s out of order for people to be on contract for so long because you don’t boost the morale of the workers. In Uganda and many other countries, for people to develop, they use their salaries to get loans. This makes them to be loyal to their jobs but if you have a contract of only four months, you can’t get a loan,” she said.
Ms Catherine Bitarakwate, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service acknowledged the review of KCCA jobs.

According to the audit report dated July 31, which was compiled by KCCA’s director of Internal Audit, Moses Bwire, 755 out of the 1,333 employees on the KCCA payroll were on temporary appointment as of September 2016.
The report adds that some of the temporary KCCA staff have been reappointed for a cumulative period of over three years yet there are several applicants who were offered appointments by the PSC.
Mr Bwire warned that workers who were approved by PSC but have never been absorbed by KCCA may claim more benefits in future.

However, the audit report revealed that there is a number of staff who have worked up to four years without being confirmed yet there is no evidence that submissions in regard to the same have ever been made to Public Service Commission.

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