The Public Service Commission (PSC) has issued guidelines that district service commissions (DSCs) should follow during recruitment of staff as the government eases lockdown measures imposed to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Staff recruitment was affected by COVID-19 but in a June 17 circular to all district leaders, Justice Ralph W. Ochan, the Chairman of the Public Service Commission, said DSCs should proceed to shortlist for adverts which closed before the lock down began on 31st March 2020, while following the guidelines issued by His Excellency the President and the Ministry of Health.
He further guided that adverts which were running before the lock down and whose deadline fell within the lock down period, with exception of those for promotional jobs should be extended after the lock down for the time equivalent to the period that was affected by the lockdown.
“Those which were for promotional jobs should be cancelled and re-advertised after the lock down period,” Justice Ocan said.
He added that adverts which were ran within the lock down period should be cancelled and the posts re-advertised after the lock down has been lifted.
For essential positions arising out of only submissions from the Chief Administrative Officers, and where by the numbers shortlisted are less than six persons per post, the DSCs can proceed and conduct oral interviews after obtaining clearance for that specific activity from the District COV1D-19 Task Forces.
Justice Ocan said Districts should send requests for guidance and appeals to PSC through emails. These should be signed and scanned.
DSCs should handle pending cases of submissions on confirmation, discipline and other cases, while observing the Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs) set by the Ministry of Health.
The Chief Administrative Officers, where applicable, should arrange to transport DSC Members, technical persons and candidates to where interviews are to take place or arrange to have them cleared and transported using the available means of transport.
The Ministry of Public Service in a letter Ref: ARC/296/06 dated 4th June, 2020 guided the Responsible Officers that while any unspent funds shall be returned to the consolidated fund at the end of the Financial Year (June 2020) in accordance with the Public Finance Management Act, 2015 (Amendments), these funds have been retained in FY 2020/2021 as reflected in the Final 1PFs by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. The unconcluded recruitments can therefore be finalized during the next Financial Year.
The DSCs should, while operating, observe the post-lock down Standard Operating Procedures for Office Operations in the Public Service of Uganda as issued by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Service in a Circular letter No. 7/2020.
The News Editor ,Reporter at Kagadi Kibaale community Radio
