Public Service rejects Apac DSC nominees

By Geoffrey Omara

Apac, April 19, 2008: The Public Service Ministry has rejected three names, including retired Lango Diocese Church Bishop, Rt. Rev. Medi Otim, nominated for District Service Commission (DSC).

Addressing journalist at his office on Friday, Bob Okae, Vice District Chairperson and leader of Government Business, said that Dickson Olet, Florence Okuja and retired bishop Otim failed the interviews due to some confidential reasons.

Okae said that Dr Abel Obot and Palma Wacha were the only two members appointed. The council had submitted five names to DSC and remitted to Public Service ministry for approval.

Consequently, the district executive committee headed by Nicholas Opio-Bunga proposed new names of Geoffrey Erach, Francis Pule and Rose Nyambogo to council which endorsed them for onward submission to Kampala.

District chairman, Nicholas Opio-Bunga the DSC would oversee appointments of personnel into the district. He said that the district was in a dire need for this body as their predecessors left office a year ago.

He said that the new names were all retired public officers with proven integrity. “We hope they won’t be bounced as they have a bulk of experiences, uncompromising and ready to resist any smell of undue influences while carrying out their duties,” he said.

Bunga advised the commission not to practice political differences in executing its duties. He said that there was a need for the commission to appoint effective and competent persons into district service.

He said that the son-of-the-soil syndrome practiced in most districts across the country that has tainted the image of decentralisation policy must be avoided, “during my tenure in office.”

Bunga said that the vacancies, which would be filled soon after the approval of the new members, were created following the newly created Oyam district that seconded officers from its mother district, Apac.

He said that the 2004/2005 national validation exercise that lay off several civil servants in the district was another cause for vacuum.