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PS Waiswa said Kagina never showed interest in taking up a position
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PARLIAMENT
The Ministry of Works and Transport has revealed that Allen Kagina, the former Executive Director of Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), did not apply for any position in the ministry following the rationalisation and merger of government agencies.
The disclosure was made by Bageya Waiswa, Permanent Secretary at the ministry, while appearing before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) during scrutiny of the 2024/25 report by Edward Akol, the Office of the Auditor General of Uganda.
Kagina Did Not Express Interest
During the session, Gorreth Namugga, the Mawogola South Member of Parliament, sought clarification on the status of former UNRA employees following the rationalisation process.
“Was the Executive Director also absorbed by the ministry?” Namugga asked.
In response, Waiswa said Kagina never showed interest in taking up a position.
“She did not show interest,” Waiswa told the committee.
Pressed further by Namugga on why Kagina declined to apply, the Permanent Secretary responded: “She knows herself.”
MP Namugga
Namugga Blames Low Public Service Pay
Namugga expressed dissatisfaction with the response and argued that the failure by some former staff to seek employment at the ministry could be linked to low salaries and pay disparities within public service.
According to the legislator, unattractive remuneration continues to discourage experienced professionals from joining or remaining in government service.
MP Says Decision Could Be Personal
However, Xavier Kyooma, the Ibanda North MP, partly disagreed with Namugga’s position, saying Kagina’s decision may have been a personal choice rather than a salary-related matter.
Kyooma cited the case of the former Executive Director of the Uganda Road Fund, Andrew Naimanye, who accepted redeployment to the Ministry of Works and Transport following the merger.
“Maybe that one depends on an individual because the Executive Director of Uganda Road Fund took it up,” Kyooma said.
Xavier Kyooma (Ibanda North)
Majority of UNRA Staff Absorbed
The committee was informed that UNRA previously had a staff capacity of 1,380 employees. Out of these, 1,254 were absorbed into the ministry after the rationalisation process.
However, 26 staff members are yet to be absorbed because they did not express interest in joining the ministry.
Government Pays Majority of Terminal Benefits
Officials also told PAC that government received UGX63.512 billion to pay terminal benefits to former staff of UNRA and the Uganda Road Fund. Out of this amount, UGX63.205 billion has already been paid. However, UGX306 million was returned at the end of the financial year due to errors involving wrong account details and incorrect names. The ministry further revealed that an additional UGX5.2 billion is still required to clear outstanding terminal benefits.
PAC to Meet Public Service Ministry Over Vacancies
Meanwhile, the Public Accounts Committee is scheduled to meet officials from the Ministry of Public Service of Uganda to discuss staffing gaps across government.
According to the Auditor General, as of December 2024 the approved establishment in Uganda’s public service stood at 658,104 positions. Of these, 356,504 positions were filled, translating into a staffing level of 54 percent and leaving 301,600 positions vacant, representing 46 percent of the workforce.
Some of PAC comittee members
Probe Into UGX46.8Bn Paid to Reappointed Staff
Legislators are also expected to examine findings indicating that some government institutions ignored guidance from the Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, and irregularly paid UGX46.8 billion in terminal benefits to 1,389 staff of rationalised agencies.
According to the Auditor General, the same individuals were later reappointed to public service positions, resulting in financial losses to government.
After meeting the Ministry of Public Service, the committee is also expected to interface with officials from the Ministry of East African Community Affairs as part of ongoing scrutiny of the Auditor General’s report.
Torch Media Africa
