By Mulengera Reporters
Top Commissioners at Uganda’s Public Service Commission (PSC) have become sharply split and gone to war while protesting the manner in which the Commission Chairman Dr. Winnie Kabogoza is handling the President’s directive to have the former Uganda Retirements Benefits Regulatory Authority (URBRA) former Chief Executive Officer Martin Nsubuga’s conduct inquired into.
In his 3rd April letter, the President directed the Commission to consider huge volumes of whistle blower documents that were tendered to him by a group of whistle blowers led by ex-MP Julius Junjura and subsequently advise him on the suitability of reappointing Nsubuga as URBRA CEO.
In a recent meeting with relevant stakeholders, the President, having read the Court Judgments and listened to the Attorney General Kiwanuka Kiryowa, acknowledged the fact that Nsubuga was no longer the incumbent CEO for URBRA since his contract lapsed on 14th April 2024.
Apparently, Nsubuga wanted to stay on as CEO and the President says he has realized there are lots of tensions regarding his retention in that position since he doesn’t have a good relationship with the Board and his line Minister Matia Kasaija.
In order to justify their 2024 refusal to renew his contract, the Board members and Kasaija did explain to the President about the financial mismanagement at URBRA and even tendered documents from audit reports implicating the former CEO.
It’s these documents that the President has since passed on to the PSC whose head Kabogoza has been advised to contact Junjura to benefit from the additional information he might be having. The President informs Kabogoza that he has been advised that the CEO has to be appointed by Kasaija on the advice of the Board, which in URBRA’s case is currently not in place having been obliterated by the Court through recent Judgments which established that some of the members weren’t eligible for inclusion.
“Given the existing disagreements between Mr. Martin A Nsubuga the former Chief Executive Officer and some board members, I direct that you [the Commission] assess his suitability for reappointment as CEO,” the President’s letter reads in part. And State House sources say that the big man from Rwakitura opted for PSC because he considers it to be the relevant and independent body of government to have the last word on matters of high level staff hiring even when URBRA is an MDA and not a mainstream Ministry entity.
The President concludes with: “Please review reports relating to allegations of corruption, financial mismanagement, complaints by staff against Martin A. Nsubuga that will be availed to you and advise accordingly.” The directive is copied to Matia Kasaija, Attorney General Kiwanuka Kiryowa and Lucy Nakyobe in her capacity as Head Public Service/Secretary to Cabinet.
However, some Commissioners/members of PSC are fuming that Ms Kabogoza hasn’t involved all of them enough yet this assignment was given to the Commission, comprising all of them, and not to merely herself as the Commission Chairperson. The disgruntled Commissioners have since demanded to be involved more and that the inquiry be conducted in a manner that is transparent and as inclusive as possible. We were unable to promptly get Ms Kabogoza’s comment. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
