Govt to roll out e-recruitment to curb bribery in recruitment

The Government is set to introduce a new online system for recruiting civil servants, in a move aimed at ending corruption and bribery in the recruitment process that has affected many job seekers across the country.

The State Minister for Public Service, Ms Grace Mary Mugasa, said the new system will promote fairness and transparency by reducing human contact during recruitment, and this will be effected next financial year 2026/2027.

In an interview with the Monitor in Masindi, Minister Mugasa said many Ugandans have been cheated by fraudsters and corrupt officials who ask for money in exchange for jobs that they never get.

“Many job seekers have fallen victim to fraudsters, paying money but failing to secure employment. But this system will enable job seekers to apply online and do interviews without direct interaction,” Minister Mugasa said.

Under the new arrangement, applicants will submit their documents online, be shortlisted through a digital system, and attend interviews in a more structured and transparent way — all being done online without meeting a physical person.

The minister said the system will start in the next financial year and will be used for all new government recruitments.

For years, many Ugandans have complained about unfair recruitment processes, where jobs are given based on money or connections instead of qualifications. A 2024 report by the Inspectorate of Government shows how serious the problem has become.

According to the report, 82 percent of job applicants said bribery is the most common form of corruption in recruitment. Many applicants reported being asked to pay money before they could be considered for a job.

The report further shows that between 2018 and 2022, job seekers were asked to pay up to Shs78 billion in bribes. Out of this, about Shs29 billion was actually paid.

This means that in just 20 districts, about Shs5.8 billion was paid in bribes every year. When extended to all districts in Uganda, the amount rises to about Shs42 billion annually. The report further points out that the amount of money demanded often depends on the type of job.

Senior positions like heads of departments require between Shs40 million and Shs50 million, while lower positions such as nursing assistants and Grade III teachers require around Shs3 million.

The education sector had the highest bribery requests, while the health sector recorded the highest actual payments.

Minister Mugasa said the new system will help restore fairness and give all Ugandans an equal chance to compete for government jobs, explaining that by removing physical contact between applicants and officials, the system will reduce chances of bribery and favoritism.

“This system will ensure that people are recruited based on their qualifications and ability, not money,” Minister Mugasa said.

Apart from introducing the online recruitment system, the government is also planning to improve salaries for some public officials.

Minister Mugasa revealed that there are ongoing discussions to increase pay for Local Council One, LC1, chairpersons, Resident District Commissioners, and other government workers. She added that teachers, including those teaching arts subjects, are also being considered for salary enhancement in the next financial year.

“Better pay can help reduce corruption because some workers engage in bribery due to low income,” Minister Mugasa said.

Meanwhile, Mr Sulaiman Byabazaire, the former Buliisa District Service Commission member, said the introduction of the electronic recruitment system could mark a new beginning for many Ugandans who have long struggled to get government jobs without paying bribes.

“If properly implemented, the system will reduce corruption, save money for job seekers, and restore trust in public institutions. The new system offers fresh hope for a fair and transparent process,” he said.