The Parliament of Uganda has launched a verification exercise to establish the authenticity of staff academic qualifications and appointment records amid concerns about irregular recruitment during the 11th Parliament.
The exercise covers all parliamentary employees, from the Clerk to support staff, and is being conducted with the Ministry of Public Service, according to information circulating on social media.
Officials are reportedly examining academic certificates, appointment letters and recruitment procedures to establish whether staff were hired in accordance with the applicable requirements.
The verification follows concerns raised by civil society organisation Agora Discourse, which reportedly identified more than 300 potentially irregular recruitments across parliamentary departments.
The exercise is expected to run for several days, with the findings intended to help address staffing gaps, enforce recruitment requirements and guide future promotions.
The process comes amid wider public debate about academic qualifications and eligibility for public office, including questions about the interpretation and application of education requirements for parliamentary candidates.
On October 19, activist and journalist Agather Atuhaire questioned the interpretation of the requirement for Members of Parliament to possess an Advanced Level certificate or its equivalent, arguing that the law should require a pass rather than merely attendance at the level.
Atuhaire also questioned how some candidates progressed through the education system despite recording failures in certain subjects at the Uganda Certificate of Education level.
However, the academic eligibility of parliamentary candidates is a separate matter from the verification of qualifications held by parliamentary employees.
The staff verification exercise is expected to establish whether recruitment and appointment procedures complied with the relevant regulations. Officials have reportedly said the process is not intended to target particular individuals.
The findings could inform decisions on staffing, promotions and the handling of any irregularities identified during the review.
