Uganda’s Speaker of Parliament, Oboth Oboth, has assured parliamentary staff that an ongoing validation exercise will not be used to target employees for dismissal, saying the process is intended to restore merit, integrity and fairness in the Parliamentary Service.
Oboth Oboth said the exercise was a normal administrative process aimed at ensuring that staff members occupy positions that match their qualifications, experience and professional capabilities.
In a statement addressing media reports about the exercise, the Speaker urged employees to remain calm and continue performing their duties, dismissing fears that the new parliamentary leadership intended to trigger job losses.
“There is no panic. There's bliss!” he said, seeking to reassure staff amid concerns surrounding the ongoing process.
The Speaker explained that he had requested assistance from the Head of Public Service to oversee the exercise, citing the need for fairness and transparency in managing the validation process.
He argued that the Parliamentary Service was part of the wider public service and should uphold the same standards of accountability and professionalism expected across government institutions.
“It is not the interest of the new leadership of Parliament to see anyone lose a job. The nation should not overthink this. Everyone should take it easy and keep serving,” Oboth Oboth said.
He maintained that the exercise was intended to address concerns about professional ranks and ensure that appointments and promotions were supported by the appropriate credentials and experience.
According to the Speaker, employees holding senior positions should demonstrate the qualifications and competence expected of those ranks, regardless of when they joined the institution.
He noted that an individual could rise to the position of director even after joining the service in 2024 or 2026, provided they met the necessary requirements.
Oboth Oboth compared public service career progression to a race in which all employees should have an equal opportunity to compete and advance based on merit.
The Speaker also cited his own career experience as an example of how professional advancement could be achieved through competitive recruitment and personal merit.
He said he had progressed through interviews and shortlisting rather than relying on influential connections, insisting that other public servants should have similar opportunities to advance.
Oboth Oboth appealed to parliamentary employees to exercise patience as the validation continues, urging them to remain focused on their responsibilities.
He reiterated that the new leadership's objective was to strengthen the institution by promoting professionalism and ensuring that career progression was guided by clear standards rather than favouritism.