At least 23 civil servants in Luwero district have been summoned to appear before the Sanctions Committee to defend themselves for abandoning duty and alleged misappropriation of funds. The affected staff includes teachers, health workers, town agents, a senior accounts assistant, and porters. According to summons by Luwero District Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Keith Bahemuka, the staff are supposed to appear before the Rewards and Sanctions Committee on 18th June 2027 to defend themselves over the disciplinary cases.
Bahemuka also directed the immediate supervisors of the staff to appear before the committee with write-ups to aid in investigations and the determination of the cases.
The affected staff facing abandonment cases include the majority of teachers from St Mary Tongo Primary School,Kyawangabi Church of Uganda, Lady Irene Primary School, Busambu Primary School, St Kizito Giriyada Primary School, St Bruno Kalagala Primary School, Kasaala St Theresa Girls Primary School, and Kibula RC Primary School, among others.
Enoch Kiyemba, the Senior Luweero District Education Officer, said the affected teachers were submitted to the committee after being absent from work for months. URN has learnt that some of the teachers stopped working years ago but continued to draw salaries till they were detected by the Human Resources Department. They were removed from the payroll and ordered to appear in the sanctions committee.
The list also includes health workers attached to Luwero hospital and Kasozi health center 111. Dr Innocent Nkonwa, the Luwero District Health Officer, said the whereabouts of one health worker is unknown and suspects that the worker could have left service. The other staff member has since apologized for the abandonment, and the Sanctions Committee will determine the actions against her.
Amon the tose to appear is the senior Accounts Assistant for Busiika town council and two town agents from Kikyusa town council who are facing disciplinary cases of falsification of documents and misappropriation of funds. If the staff fail to defend themselves, they will be forwarded to the District Service Commission to initiate a process to remove them from service.
Recently, Luwero District dismissed 20 civil servants from public service over abandonment of duty and drunkenness. Luwero District Human Resource Officer Bernard Okello said the affected employees were fired after they were found guilty of absconding from duty for several months without permission from their supervisors, contrary to the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders.
Okello added that one employee was dismissed due to drunkenness while on duty. According to Okello, some of the staff failed to appear before the disciplinary committee when summoned, with reports suggesting that several had left the country in search of better employment opportunities abroad.
Under Sections A-N 19 and 20 of the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders, a responsible officer is required to immediately stop the salary of any employee who abandons duty and submit the matter to the appointing authority for formal removal from public service. The regulations further state that any officer who abandons duty forfeits all rights and privileges attached to their office from the date of abandonment.-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
