New Kalungu DEO Finally Gets Appointment Letter

 David Bbaale Mukasa has finally been appointed as Kalungu District Education Officer ending months of delays.

 

Mukasa emerged the best candidate following interviews conducted by Kalungu District Service Commission early this year.

 

As a result, the District Service Commission (DSC) confirmed him under minute KDLG/DSC/048/04/2017 as the substantive Kalungu District Education Officer.

 

Although the DSC confirmed Mukasa's appointment, Davis Dembe Beyeza, the then Kalungu Chief Administrative officer (CAO) declined to give Mukasa his appointment letter.

 

Mukasa threatened to sue Kalungu district for alleged failure to honour his appointment but Beyeza stuck to his guns.

 

In June this year, Beyeza was transferred to Rubanda district and was replaced in Kalungu, a month later, by Fiida Nabirye Kyendibaiza.

 

Yesterday, August 15, Mukasa received his appointment letter as Kalungu district Education Officer.

 

It is still not clear why outgoing CAO Dembe had declined to appoint Mukasa.

 

New CAO Nabirye tells Mukasa in his appointment letter that the appointment takes immediate effect. Nabirye tells Mukasa that he is expected to exhibit a high level of integrity, objectivity, impartiality and transparency while executing his duties.

 

Nabirye orders Mukasa to observe Uganda Public Service standing orders in regard to taking over office. She also issues him with schedules of his duties as District Education Officer which includes coordination and provision of technical and professional guidance in the management of education and sports policies, plans and programmes in Kalungu district.

 

Mukasa has confirmed getting appointment letter and pledged to promote teamwork aimed at uplifting the standards of education in the district.

 

Kalungu has not had a substantive education officer since its inception in 2010. The acting DEO Heziroine Kayinga couldn't be confirmed because he doesn't have a master's degree in education, a key requirement for the post.

 

Kalungu district is currently grappling with staffing gaps. Only 86 out of the 173 approved positions in the district are filled leaving 87 vacant. They include among others the post of district engineer, District Health Officer and Water engineer.

 

In his 2016 financial year report, Auditor General John Muwanga advised Kalungu district to engage the relevant authorities to recruit and fill the vacant posts.