Parliament Orders HR Audit Amid Irregular Recruitment Claims

The Parliamentary Commission has launched a thorough human resource audit following serious allegations of irregular staff recruitment. This move by the new Commission of the 12th Parliament is intended to scrutinize past hiring practices and address concerns about the integrity of staffing within the institution.

The audit, which will involve both internal and external auditors, comes in response to claims that over 300 staff members were hired improperly during the 11th Parliament. These allegations include recruitment without the necessary qualifications and filling positions that were not publicly advertised.

Furthermore, accusations suggest that recruitment favored individuals with personal connections to members of the Parliamentary Commission, potentially disadvantaging other qualified Ugandans. The new Commission is committed to cleaning up these alleged “backdoor recruitment” practices.

Susan Jolly Abeja, Chairperson of the Human Resource Sub-Committee, stated that the audit’s primary goal is to “weed out all those who were illegally recruited” and to “bring sanity at Parliament.” The findings will guide the Commission in realigning staff to appropriate roles based on their qualifications and may inform decisions regarding early retirement in the public interest.

The Commission has pledged to ensure that all future appointments strictly follow established procedures, providing fair opportunities for all Ugandans. The timeline for the audit’s completion and the public release of its findings have not yet been disclosed.

This audit and the decision to scrap controversial service awards for Commissioners signal the new leadership’s commitment to restoring public trust and enhancing integrity within Parliament.

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