By Anzoo Evaline.

Tension unfolded in Adjumani District after a group of youth disrupted an ongoing recruitment exercise for Primary School teachers for government aided schools.

The incident occurred during interviews for the position of Education Assistant (Primary Teacher)where more than250 shortlisted candidates had gathered to compete for the 36 available teaching positions in the district. The recruitment exercise had been organized by officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports and the Public Service Commission.

However, the interviews failed to proceed after the youth stormed the venue and halted the process, claiming the district was currently in a political transition.

Education officials say if the recruitment does not take place in time, schools in Adjumani District may continue operating with inadequate teaching staff, which could negatively affect learning outcomes for hundreds of pupils in the area.

One of the demonstrators, Asienzo Marian Faith, said the group intentionally disrupted the exercise because they believed recruitment should not continue before the new leadership fully assumes office.

“I am one of the members who participated in the demonstration and the cancellation of the interview that was going on. We have hijacked the recruitment process because we are in transition. Currently, we cannot trust any recruitment process within Adjumani,” Asienzo said.

She questioned why the district leadership was rushing to conduct recruitment when the political leadership had just changed.

“Why is Adjumani so special? Even the President of the ruling government has not started making appointments yet. We feel recruitment should wait until the transition process is complete,” she added.

District authorities, however, described the disruption as unfortunate and warned that it could cost the district vital funding meant for paying newly recruited teachers.

The Chief Administrative Officer of Adjumani, Ochen Andrew James, said the recruitment exercise had been organized in a transparent manner and involved professional institutions mandated to handle public service recruitment.

“It is a very unfortunate situation because we are trying to ensure that transparency is maintained by using the real professional bodies that conduct recruitment.  But the whole process for the teachers has been disrupted and we now stand high chances of losing the allocated wage bill,” Ochen explained.

According to the district administration, failure to complete the recruitment before June 30^th, 2026, when the financial year ends, could lead to the loss of funds allocated to pay the 36 teachers.

The Resident District Commissioner of Adjumani, Toko Swaib, also condemned the disruption, saying the individuals involved were dissatisfied with the recruitment process but should not have interfered with a government exercise.

“The group who disrupted the recruitment process were dissatisfied with the exercise that was being conducted by a team from the Ministry of Education. I do not know why they were mobilized to interfere with the process,” the RDC said.

He warned that the consequences could be severe for the district’s education sector, which is already struggling with staffing gaps.

“The disruption of this interview is going to affect Adjumani because we already have a shortage of staff, especially after partners who were previously supporting the district scaled down their support,” Toko said.

The RDC explained that the recruitment was meant to address the shortage of teachers in government-aided primary schools across the district.

“This recruitment would have helped cover some of the staffing gaps. By not having it at all, it will have a big impact,” he added.

Despite the disruption, district leaders remain hopeful that the recruitment exercise can still be salvaged before the end of the financial year.

“I want to believe it is still not too late. The Public Service Commission can reorganize and conduct the interviews again,” the RDC noted.

END.

By Anzoo Evaline.

Stakeholders in Adjumani District have reaffirmed their commitment to support and protect women and girls as the district joined the rest of the country to commemorate International Women’s Day.

The celebration was held under the theme “Scaling up Investment to Accelerate Access to Justice for All Women and Girls in Uganda,” bringing together district leaders, development partners, civil society organizations, and community members to reflect on the progress made in advancing women’s rights while addressing the challenges that remain.

Speaking during the event, Hon. Chandia Doris Vueni, the Chief Organizer of the Day and Female District Councilor representing Pakele Sub-county, praised women for their crucial role in community development and family welfare.

“As women, you are the backbone of our community, driving development and nurturing families,” she said. “Women of Adjumani are the driving force behind our social and economic growth. Your resilience and determination inspire everybody in the families,” Chandia said

Candia urged stakeholders to continue supporting initiatives that empower women and girls, noting that while progress has been achieved, several challenges still hinder women from fully enjoying their rights and opportunities.

“As we mark this day, let us recognize the progress made and the challenges that remain. We must invest in women’s education, health, and economic empowerment,” she added.

The Secretary for Health for Adjumani District Local Government, Hon. Sabuni John, emphasized that women play a critical role in development and must continue to be prioritized in national and local policies.

“Other nations still do not recognize the importance of women. But for us in Uganda, we value women and indeed women are key in the development sector,” Sabuni said.

Representatives from development partners also echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the need for sustained collaboration to protect and empower women and girls.

Gelgla Tsega, the Head of Sub Office for United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Adjumani, noted that the day is not only meant for celebration but also for reflection and renewed commitment to gender equality.

“This day offers an important opportunity to celebrate the resilience, achievements, and contributions of women and girls in our communities. But it is also a day to remember the challenges that we all face and to reaffirm our commitment that every woman and girl enjoys equal rights of protection and equal rights in opportunities in Uganda and all over the world for advancing gender equality and sustainable development,” Tsega said.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Adjumani District, Emmanuel Okware, highlighted the strides Uganda has made in promoting women’s representation in leadership and governance.

According to Okware, women currently hold 33 percent of seats in parliament, while 22 percent of elected positions in local governments are occupied by women.

“These statistics highlight areas where progress is being made,” he said. “The government of Uganda, through parliament, has adopted laws to protect women’s rights in areas such as domestic violence, property ownership, and employment,” Okware said.

He further urged all stakeholders to continue supporting policies and initiatives aimed at strengthening women’s protection and empowerment.

“As we celebrate this day, we commit ourselves and urge all stakeholders to also commit themselves to ensuring that women and girls are protected and empowered,” Okware added.

Participants at the event also called for increased investment in programs that promote access to justice for women and girls, especially in rural communities where many cases of gender-based violence often go unreported.

Community leaders emphasized that empowering women economically and socially is key to reducing vulnerability and ensuring they can actively contribute to development.

The celebrations in Adjumani District were marked by cultural performances, speeches, and community engagements aimed at promoting gender equality and recognizing the role of women in building resilient communities.

Stakeholders concluded the event by pledging to continue working together to ensure that women and girls enjoy equal rights, protection, and opportunities in society.

END.

By Anzoo Evaline.

Tension briefly mounted during the 4th council meeting of the Adjumani District Council after a motion seeking the reappointment of two members to the District Service Commission sparked a heated debate among councilors.

The motion was moved by the Leader of Government Business and also the Vice Chairperson, Kaijuka Richard Arthur, who argued that renewing the terms of the commissioners was necessary to ensure continuity in service delivery and avoid disruption in recruitment processes within the district.

Presenting the report of the District Executive Committee (DEC), Kaijuka explained that the district needed to act quickly because the wage bill allocated for recruiting technical staff could be exhausted by the end of the financial year if the Service Commission office does not function smoothly.

“The wage bill allocated to Adjumani District for recruitment of technical staff will be withdrawn by the end of the financial year. It is therefore important that we act in a timely and responsible manner to ensure continuity in the operation of the District Service Commission office,” he told the council.

Kaijuka then presented the names of two members whose terms were either expired or nearing expiry for renewal. They included Reverend Sister Maia Francis, whose term of office expired on 23rd February 2026, and Mr. Amoko Eugene Gudu, whose term is expected to end on 23rd May 2026.

However, the motion quickly drew criticism from some councilors who questioned the urgency of reappointing a member whose term had not yet expired.

The councilor representing Ciforo Sub-county, Anyanzo John Ambayo, challenged the move, saying council should follow the legal procedures governing the appointment of members to the District Service Commission.

“Mr. Speaker, it is indicated in the DEC meeting that the term of office that expired on 23rd February was for Mr. Amoko Eugene Gudu, and we are ready to approve his reappointment. But for the other member, the term is yet to expire in May. Why do we rush when the law says the process should begin after the expiration?” he asked.

The debate grew more intense when another councilor, Drichi Charles, representing Pakele Town Council, stood up to correct what he described as confusion in the names and terms of office presented in the motion.

“We have Reverend Sister Maria Francis whose term of office expired on 23rd February 2026, which is contrary to what he said. I also want to correct him because he said it is Amoko who can be reappointed. That was wrong. We need to amend that,” Drichi said.

He added that council should strictly act within the law and suggested that only the member whose term had already expired should be considered for approval.

“Maybe Mr. Speaker, if we are to act within the law, then we shall only approve one person,” he emphasized.

As the disagreement continued among councilors, the Speaker of the council, Oloya Jacob, intervened to calm the situation and guide the house on the way forward.

The Speaker directed the committee responsible for the matter to review the report and clarify the details before bringing it back for consideration.

“I want to urge the committee members to go back and review this matter and then present it to the District Executive Committee for further discussion. But for now, let us move to the next motion,” Oloya ruled.

The directive temporarily halted the debate and allowed the council to proceed with other business on the agenda, though the issue is expected to return for further deliberation once the committee completes its review.

The District Service Commission plays a key role in the recruitment and management of civil servants at the district level, making its composition a matter of significant interest to councilors and residents alike.

END.