Government gives instructions on the composition of district and municipal service commissions

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The Government has provided guidance to local governments on the appropriate composition of municipal and district service commissions to mitigate increasing litigation against the institutions.

Public Service Commission Chairperson Winnie Kabogoza-Musoke said a duly constituted commission must have two female members, including the chairperson of the committee.

“While some of you (district service commissions) have been in operation, you have one female representative. There should be two; that is one third, as the Attorney General has indicated to us,” she said.

He made the disclosure during a meeting of all members of the country’s District Service Commissions (DSCs) at the Uganda Manufacturers Association Conference Hall in Kampala on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.

The event, which was attended by over 100 participants from a total of 146 districts, was chaired by Permanent Secretary Ben Kumumanya and officiated by the Minister of State for Local Government, Rusoke Businge.

Urban advice

Kabogoza-Musoke said that where there is more than one urban council, local governments should ensure that a DSC member representing urban authorities is nominated by members of the executive committees of all urban councils in the district or cities.

“The name must be sent to the president (of the Public Service Commission) with minutes endorsed by the president and the secretary of the urban council. Members of the city and district service commissions can only serve two terms of four years each,” he warned.

He noted that when a committee member is nominated to the position of DSC chair, he or she can only serve the remaining term of his or her mandate.

He said decisions by cities or DSCs that are not fully constituted are prone to being challenged in a court of law by vigilant members of the public.

It also explained the criteria for taking action on dysfunctional DSCs, noting: “The city or district council may suspend a member or the entire DSC after consultation with the Public Service Commission and the Attorney General regarding any intended grounds for removal of a member.”

DSC Mandate

By law, DSCs are responsible for the appointment, confirmation, promotion, discipline and removal from office of all employees except the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Deputy CAO, City Clerk and Deputy City Clerk of a City and City Clerks (TC) of Municipalities who are appointed by the Public Service Commission.