The online platform will provide broader opportunities for advertising vacancies and managing applications in a more structured and transparent manner
By Ojok Tonny
Gulu City-The Public Service Commission (PSC) plans to adopt a digital recruitment system powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to address long-standing challenges and restore public trust in Uganda’s hiring processes.
Speaking at a two-day stakeholders’ conference for District and City Service Commissions from Acholi and Lango sub-regions, PSC Chairperson Dr Winnie Agnes Musoke said digital transformation is overdue, citing persistent issues such as inadequate office equipment, poor welfare for commission members, weak infrastructure, and manual recruitment processes that compromise efficiency.
She urged district chairpersons and city mayors to nominate computer-literate commission members who can adapt to global shifts in human resource management. Dr Musoke also commended the government for allocating funds to support e-recruitment services.
The Minister for Public Service, Hon. Dr. Wilson Muruli Mukasa, acknowledged growing public criticism over alleged irregularities in the recruitment process, including the hiring of unqualified candidates, forged academic documents, unethical conduct, and corruption.
He revealed that the Commission has submitted proposals to Parliament, including the integration of AI to enhance verification during e-registration and recruitment, describing it as a key step in addressing credibility concerns.
Commissioner for Human Resource Management Ronald Kiberu explained that the shift to online recruitment aims to reduce human interference and strengthen accountability at the district and city levels. He said Article 198 of the Constitution mandates the Commission to implement digital recruitment methods.
Kiberu said the online platform will provide broader opportunities for advertising vacancies and managing applications in a more structured and transparent manner. He noted that rollout will begin in Lira, Hoima, Gulu, Mbarara, and Arua before extending to all districts and cities in Uganda.
Dr Mukasa noted that the conference aims to identify past gaps and shape reforms that can restore confidence in the public service hiring environment.
Meanwhile, the minister announced ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Finance to secure a 25% salary increment by July 2026 for arts and humanities teachers and other public servants whose salaries have remained stagnant since 2014. The government will require Sh1.4 trillion to implement the planned pay rise, which will be rolled out over four years.
“We are in discussions with the Ministry of Finance to raise salaries for teachers in arts and humanities by 25%. We need about UGX 1.4 trillion to cover 66.5% of these employees for the 2026/2027 financial year, and the increment will run over three years until we reach 77% of all public servants,” he said.
