Deputy Inspector General of Government Anne Muhairwe has urged newly appointed members of Uganda’s Public Service Commission (PSC) to uphold integrity, fairness and merit in recruitment and promotion, warning that tribalism, nepotism and bribery threaten public confidence in government institutions.

“Tribalism and nepotism in our country are cheap and must stop,” Muhairwe said, stressing that public service positions should be awarded to competent and deserving candidates rather than individuals favoured through personal connections or other forms of influence.

She made the remarks on Tuesday during an induction training session for PSC members at Lake Victoria Serena Resort Hotel in Kigo. Her presentation focused on corruption risks in recruitment, promotion, bribery and conflicts of interest, as well as their implications for the effectiveness of appointing authorities.

Congratulating the newly appointed commissioners, Muhairwe reminded them of their responsibility to help build a competent, professional and accountable public service. She said the Commission’s credibility would depend on its ability to make impartial, transparent and evidence-based decisions, even when faced with external pressure or personal interests.

“Get us brilliant minds in the service,” she urged, emphasising that appointments and promotions should be based on merit to improve institutional performance and public service delivery.

Muhairwe cautioned that corruption in recruitment can take several forms, including bribery, nepotism, influence peddling, manipulation of job specifications, alteration of interview scores, forgery of documents and interference in selection processes.

She noted that such practices can deny qualified candidates employment opportunities, undermine staff morale, expose appointing authorities to complaints and reputational damage, and erode public trust in government institutions.

To address these risks, the Deputy IGG called on the Public Service Commission to strengthen safeguards throughout recruitment and promotion processes. She highlighted the need to publish and consistently apply approved selection criteria, maintain complete and accurate records, verify applicants’ qualifications, require the disclosure of conflicts of interest, and properly justify and document any changes to recruitment procedures.

She also emphasised the importance of handling integrity-related information fairly by giving affected candidates an opportunity to respond to allegations and ensuring that complaints are resolved promptly and impartially.

According to Muhairwe, transparency and proper documentation are essential for enabling the Commission to explain and defend its decisions whenever they are challenged.

She reaffirmed the Inspectorate of Government’s willingness to work with the Commission to strengthen integrity and accountability in public administration.

“The Inspectorate of Government is here to support you. We are going to share and coordinate with you as much as possible,” she said, encouraging continued cooperation between the two institutions.

Muhairwe concluded that public confidence in the Public Service Commission would depend not only on its stated commitment to integrity but also on the fairness and credibility of its decisions as experienced by job applicants, public officers and citizens.