Zadock Amanyisa | Tayari News
BUSHENYI – The Bushenyi District Chief Administrative Officer(CAO) has been tasked by the Public Service Commission(PSC) to ‘comment’ on allegations surrounding corruption and non-compliance with the law in the appointment of the District Service Commission (DSC).
In the letter dated 13th February, Dr John Geoffrey Mbabazi, the PSC Secretary, told the CAO that they received a complaint from Western Ankole Western Civil Society Forum(WASCOF) alleging that the law was not followed during the process of appointing the service commission.
This publication understands that WACSOF in February wrote to the Public Service Commission about the situation in Bushenyi district.
According to the WACSOF Executive Director, Apollo Lee Kakonge, in November 2025, the term of office of the chairperson and two other members of the Bushenyi district service commission expired, and subsequently, the district leadership undertook a process to fill these gaps.
The processes reportedly culminated in the submission of the three names to the council and their subsequent appointment on Thursday, 18th December 2025, awaiting approval by the Public Service Commission, but in the process, the law was not followed.
“However, we have since established that the relevant laws and procedures were not fully adhered to in the process preceding the appointment of the three people to the DSC by the district council.”
Kakonge alleged in the letter that the District Executive Committee (DSC) was not involved in deliberations regarding the three names of the DSC.
The law requires that the DSC shall be appointed by the district council on the recommendation of the district executive committee, with the approval of the Public Service Commission.
Kakonge said that the lack of participation by the district executive committee rendered the process a nullity and undermined the principle of accountability and checks and balances.
He told the PSC that WACSOF and the Bushenyi community got information through a leaked audio recording indicating that, before and after the consideration of the appointment of Mr Denning Barahuka as Chairperson of the DSC by the district council on 18th December 2025, but in the process, the LCV Chairperson and some members of the district council accepted bribes, in contravention of the laws of the land.
“Citizens of Bushenyi District are dissatisfied with the manner in which the appointment of the new chairperson and other members of the district service commission was handled and believes that these corrupt and illegal maneuvers undermine transparency and accountability in the delivery of public goods and services, erodes public trust in government institutions, and undermines the President’s directive on curbing corruption in district service commissions.” Kakonge’s letter read in part.
It is against this background that the PSC wrote to the CAO, tasking her to provide answers to the allegations.
“The purpose of this letter is to bring the allegations to your attention and request your comments on the allegations.”
The CAO has also been asked to submit a certified copy of the Minutes of the District Executive Committee meeting held on 17th December, 2025, signed by all the District Executive Committee Members who attended and signed a copy of the attendance list.
The PSC wants to know whether the DEC was not involved in the process of nomination of the three members that were submitted to the PSC, and also whether the LCV Chairperson and some members of the DEC accepted bribes after the District Council meeting that was held on 18th December 2025, whereby Mr Demining was approved for appointment as the Chairperson, Bushenyi DSC.
“The evidence available is a leaked audio recording which is already in possession of some responsible Government offices. Such corrupt practices undermine the President’s directives on curbing corruption in District Service Commissions, in addition to being illegal.
Section 59 of the Local Government Act provides for the establishment of a District Service Commission for each district, consisting of a chairperson and such other members as a district council shall determine, at least one of whom shall represent urban authorities and all of whom shall be appointed by the district council on the recommendation of the district executive committee with the approval of the Public Service Commission.
The same section requires a district council to appoint a District Service Commission within three months after the term of the District Service Commission expires, and the Ministry responsible for local governments shall enforce compliance with this subsection.
According to Kakonge, the President’s commitment to fighting corruption is well-known, and the PSC should intervene and enforce compliance with the law.
“We request an investigation and action against those involved.”
A source familiar with these developments told this reporter that PSC officials were in Bushenyi district last week to investigate the matter, after which a report and a decision will be made.