Jinja, Attorney General sued over disputed District Service Commission appointments
With the court injunction now in effect, all recruitment activities in Jinja District have been suspended, pending judicial determination of the case.
Jinja: The Jinja District leadership and the Attorney General are facing legal action over the recent appointment of members to the District Service Commission (DSC), with allegations of ineligibility, corruption, and procedural irregularities at the heart of the dispute.
The petition, filed by Councilor Mujoma Abdullah, names Kasiba George Kalalu, Basalira Nold Collins, and Byakatonda Margaret, the newly appointed chairperson and members of the DSC as respondents. The suit, lodged through SMAK Advocates, challenges the legality of their appointments and seeks to halt the operations of the commission.
According to Mujoma, the appointments were made in violation of established legal and procedural frameworks, despite prior warnings from the Solicitor General and a formal opinion issued by the Attorney General.
He alleges that corruption and lack of transparency have marred the appointment process and claims that former District Executive Committee (DEC) member Samuel Akalyamawa resigned over similar concerns.
“I am committed to pursuing this matter to the highest court if necessary,” Mujoma said, reaffirming his stance on accountability in local governance.
In response, Jinja District LC5 Chairperson Moses Batwala confirmed that Mujoma had filed a court case against the district and the Attorney General.
However, Batwala dismissed the claims, stating that the appointment process was properly executed, with nominees approved by the District Council and forwarded to the Public Service Commission in Kampala for confirmation.
Batwala criticized Mujoma’s legal activism, citing a past High Court ruling in which Mujoma was fined UGX 15 million and briefly detained in Kirinya Prison for failure to comply. He accused Mujoma of undermining district operations for personal interests and claimed that his actions could jeopardize over UGX 2 billion in recruitment funds due to be returned to the Consolidated Fund if unused within two months.
The High Court in Jinja, through a ruling issued by Deputy Registrar Robert Mukanza on May 7, 2025, ordered a temporary injunction, restraining the DSC members from assuming office pending the outcome of Application No. 0133 of 2025.
A letter from the Public Service Commission, dated April 17, 2025 (Ref: DSC 11/191/1 VOL.4), acknowledged the appeal filed over the appointments and addressed concerns of bribery and irregularities during the December 23, 2024 nomination session.
The Commission confirmed the presence of Ms. Mutiba Proscovia on the District Executive Committee, fulfilling the legal requirement for female representation under Section 16(2) and (4) of the Local Government Act, Cap 138.
While there were objections to the regional representation of the nominees many of whom hail from Buwenge and Butagaya sub-counties the commission emphasized that the district council lawfully debated and approved the appointments.
With the court injunction now in effect, all recruitment activities in Jinja District have been suspended, pending judicial determination of the case.
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