Deputy Inspector General of Government Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe has warned the Public Service Commission (PSC) against tribalism, nepotism and bribery in public service recruitment, urging its newly appointed members to prioritise merit and integrity in selecting and promoting public officers.
“Tribalism and nepotism in our country are cheap and must stop,”Muhairwe said, warning that favouritism and corruption undermine public confidence in government institutions.
She made the remarks during the induction of newly appointed PSC members at Lake Victoria Serena Resort Hotel in Kigo, where she highlighted corruption risks in recruitment, promotion and the handling of conflicts of interest.
Muhairwe urged the commissioners to recruit competent candidates based on their qualifications and abilities rather than personal connections or other improper considerations.
“Get us brilliant minds in the service,” she said, emphasising that merit-based recruitment was critical to building a professional and accountable public service.
She warned that recruitment-related corruption can involve bribery, influence peddling, manipulation of job specifications, alteration of interview scores, forgery of documents and interference in selection processes.
According to Twino, such practices deny qualified candidates employment opportunities, lower staff morale, expose appointing authorities to complaints and reputational damage, and erode public trust in government.
She called on the commission to strengthen safeguards by consistently applying approved selection criteria, verifying candidates’ qualifications, maintaining accurate recruitment records and requiring officials to declare conflicts of interest.
Muhairwe also urged the PSC to ensure that changes to recruitment procedures are properly justified and documented, while handling complaints impartially and giving affected candidates an opportunity to respond.
She said transparent procedures and proper documentation would help the commission defend its decisions when challenged.
Muhairwe pledged the Inspectorate of Government’s support in strengthening accountability within the public service, encouraging closer cooperation between the two institutions.
“The Inspectorate of Government is here to support you. We are going to share and coordinate with you as much as possible,” she said.
She added that the commission’s credibility would ultimately depend on whether applicants, public officers and citizens experienced fairness and integrity in its decisions.