Speaker orders investigation into corruption, nepotism in seed secondary school recruitment
The call for inquiry comes after revelations by Peter Ogwang, Minister of State for Sports, who disclosed during the session that the recruitment process under the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers (UgIFT) Program had been tainted by corruption.
Speaker Anita Among has called for a comprehensive investigation into allegations of corruption, nepotism, and the hiring of unqualified teachers in World Bank-funded Seed Secondary Schools across Uganda.
The Joint Committee on Education and the Committee on Public Service and Local Government have been tasked with probing these serious claims.
During a plenary session, Speaker Among emphasized the importance of a thorough investigation and ensuring fairness for all affected teachers.
She directed that the Education Committee take the lead in compiling and presenting the findings, addressing the issues head-on.
The call for inquiry comes after revelations by Peter Ogwang, Minister of State for Sports, who disclosed during the session that the recruitment process under the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers (UgIFT) Program had been tainted by corruption.
According to Ogwang, prospective teachers were being asked to pay substantial sums to secure positions, while the qualifications of some headteachers and deputy headteachers were found to be insufficient.
Ogwang pointed out that the recruitment process had seen headteachers and deputy headteachers appointed without the necessary qualifications, undermining the quality of leadership in the schools. These positions, according to the recruitment guidelines, require candidates to possess higher education qualifications and extensive experience, yet many of those recruited failed to meet the criteria.
Complaints have surfaced from experienced teachers and Chief Administrative Officers who were excluded from the recruitment lists, reportedly due to regional biases.
The Ministry of Education also acknowledged discrepancies in the recruitment lists submitted to the Education Service Commission, with conflicting information complicating the verification process.
Ogwang outlined the progress of the UgIFT project, revealing that 117 Seed Secondary Schools are already operational, with more schools in various stages of construction. However, the controversy surrounding the recruitment process has cast a shadow over the success of the program.
While some MPs called for a debate on the Minister’s statement, Speaker Among instructed that the matter be referred to the relevant committees for further scrutiny, stressing the need to follow proper procedure.
