The Kisoro District Council has suspended the District Service Commission (DSC) and petitioned the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate allegations of bribery, nepotism, and irregular recruitment practices in the district.
The decision was reached during a heated council session chaired by Speaker Amos Hakizimana after councilors received a report from the Works Committee Chairperson, Philip Ntacyotugira, detailing what was described as massive irregularities in recent recruitment exercises.
According to the report, the commission allegedly recruited more people than the officially advertised vacancies. Councilors heard that while only 105 teaching positions had been advertised, 174 people were recruited. Nursing positions reportedly increased from 10 advertised slots to 22 recruits, midwives from eight to 16, and medical doctors from one to four.
Councilors alleged that the additional positions were part of a “jobs-for-sale” scheme in which applicants were reportedly asked to pay between 10 and 15 million shillings to secure employment. Vice Chairperson Nambajimana Alex told council that he was prepared to table an audio recording allegedly implicating DSC officials and the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) in soliciting bribes from job seekers.
The scandal also sparked concerns over alleged favoritism and exclusion during recruitment. Councilor Juliet of Nyanamo Town Council claimed that the process disadvantaged poor applicants, especially young men who could not afford the alleged bribes. Other councilors, including Bishubeho Louise and Rukara Godffrey, questioned the qualifications of some DSC members and raised concerns over a possible 200 million shilling lawsuit by a candidate allegedly denied an interview despite applying.
Although Kisoro Chief Administrative Officer John Nyakahuma denied involvement in the allegations and defended the autonomy of the commission, councilors overwhelmingly voted to suspend all DSC operations pending investigations. Speaker Hakizimana has since directed the District Chairperson to invite the Inspector General of Government (IGG) and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to carry out a forensic audit and criminal investigation into the recruitment process.
The council says the investigations are intended to dismantle what members described as entrenched corruption and nepotism within the district recruitment system. However, the suspension has triggered a legal challenge from the commission’s lawyers. Nabaasa Rodgers of A Marvin and Company Advocates, who represents the DSC, argues that the commission is an independent constitutional body protected from political interference under the Constitution and Section 64 of the Local Governments Act.
Rodgers maintains that the district council has no legal powers to suspend the commission and revealed that the DSC has already taken the matter to court. He further alleged that the conflict stems from the commission’s refusal to shortlist unqualified individuals allegedly backed by some political leaders in the district-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
