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Government Halts Fresh Contracts for Retired Officers
Retired government officers will no longer be granted fresh contracts, the Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet, Lucy Nakyobe, has announced.
Speaking at the opening of the Fifth Administrative Officers’ Forum at Mbale Resort Hotel on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, Nakyobe said the government will now prioritise young professionals instead of “recycling” retirees.
“You cannot be getting a pension and a new salary at the same time, yet you are old and unable to deliver effectively,” she warned.
Nakyobe also revealed that some retired officers have been using personal connections to the Presidency to secure extensions, a practice she vowed to end.
“I am going to write to the President because some letters come directly from him upon requests from people who do not want to leave office,” she said.
The four-day forum, running until August 29 under the theme “Fostering Public Confidence Through Transparent and Accountable Governance,” has brought together administrators from across the country.
Nakyobe was responding to concerns raised by Dr. Emmanuel Mugunga, chairperson of the Uganda Association of Public Administrators, who called out retirees resisting exit and seeking contract extensions. He urged the Head of Public Service to intervene, saying such practices lock out qualified officers from advancing.
Government administrators welcomed the move, with Dr. Peter Adoko Obicci noting that ending contracts for retirees would “create room for junior officers who are out of universities or already within the system, or else their careers stagnate.”
Nakyobe challenged serving officers to embrace digital systems, uphold discipline, and restore public trust in government service. “You have spoiled the public service. Administrators must set the bar high. Do not seek to be loved at the expense of quality delivery,” she said.
“If you want to be loved, go home and be loved by your children,” she added, stressing firmness, innovation, and ethics.
She further cautioned against absenteeism, poor performance, and the pursuit of quick wealth, emphasising that continuous professional growth and digitisation are crucial for efficiency.
Dr. Mugunga said the forum offers administrators an opportunity to reflect on challenges and craft solutions.
“We envision a secure, well-governed, and developed nation driven by disciplined and motivated administrators,” he remarked.
Hajji Yunus Kakande, Secretary in the Office of the President, also urged diligence, integrity, and vigilance against corruption. He likened ghost-worker scandals to “people told to deliver a cow but who instead bring only three legs.”
The forum, previously hosted in Jinja, Kampala, Mbarara, and Gulu, is expected to map out critical skills for administrators while promoting accountability, professional growth, and motivation in public service.
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