KIRA, Uganda — The Town Clerk of Entebbe Municipal Council, Mr. Emmanuel Gakyalo, has welcomed the Ministry of Local Government’s latest measures to curb corruption in the recruitment of public servants, describing the reforms as a significant step towards strengthening transparency, accountability and merit-based recruitment in local governments.
Speaking in an interview, Gakyalo praised the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ben Kumumanya, for spearheading reforms aimed at eliminating corruption from public service recruitment.
He described Kumumanya as a hardworking and transparent public servant whose leadership has reinforced government efforts to ensure that recruitment is based on competence rather than bribery, political influence or personal connections.
“The Ministry has demonstrated that corruption has no place in public service. These guidelines will strengthen transparency and ensure that deserving Ugandans have equal opportunities to serve their country,” Gakyalo said.
He noted that the reforms would enhance accountability across local governments and improve public confidence in recruitment processes.
According to Gakyalo, transparent recruitment enables local governments to attract competent professionals capable of improving service delivery in critical sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare and education.
He added that Entebbe Municipal Council has registered notable progress in infrastructure development, particularly in road construction and the improvement of health facilities, and said stronger anti-corruption measures would help safeguard such achievements.
The Town Clerk acknowledged that corruption has, over the years, affected several local government institutions, with some officials implicated in bribery, embezzlement and other forms of financial misconduct.
His remarks follow a circular issued by the Ministry of Local Government on 3 July 2026, in which Permanent Secretary Ben Kumumanya directed Chief Administrative Officers, City Town Clerks and Municipal Town Clerks to strengthen oversight of recruitment processes and address corruption within District and City Service Commissions.
According to the Ministry, persistent inspection and monitoring reports, investigations and complaints from members of the public have revealed widespread irregularities and abuse of office during recruitment exercises in several local governments.
The Ministry warned that such practices have undermined the effectiveness of District and City Service Commissions and weakened public confidence in Uganda’s decentralised system of governance.
It further noted that previous interventions, including guidance issued to District and City Service Commission members, District Chairpersons and City Mayors, had not yielded the desired results, necessitating stricter administrative measures.
Gakyalo said the new directive reinforces accountability among local government leaders and strengthens public trust in government institutions.
“When recruitment is transparent, local governments attract competent professionals who improve service delivery. That is what our communities deserve,” he said.
He urged accounting officers, technical staff and members of District and City Service Commissions to fully comply with the Ministry’s guidelines and uphold the principles of integrity, professionalism and fairness throughout recruitment exercises.
Gakyalo also appealed to the public to reject corruption by refusing to pay bribes for government jobs and by reporting officials who solicit money during recruitment.
“The fight against corruption requires collective action. Government agencies, citizens, civil society organisations and the media all have a role to play in promoting transparency and accountability,” he said.
The Ministry’s latest intervention forms part of the government’s broader efforts to strengthen good governance, improve service delivery and protect the integrity of Uganda’s decentralisation policy by ensuring that public employment is based on merit and equal opportunity.
Under Gakyalo’s leadership over the past three years, Entebbe Municipality has recorded significant growth in development and local revenue mobilisation. According to municipal officials, the council collected approximately Shs6 billion in locally generated revenue during the last financial year, supporting investments in infrastructure and public services.
The post ‘Corruption Has No Place in Local Government’: Entebbe Town Clerk Gakyalo Welcomes Ministry’s Recruitment Reforms appeared first on Watchdog Uganda.