National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) Executive Director Rosemary Kisembo is on the spot over cancellation of a job advertisement in the New vision calling for suitable candidates to fill the position of Manager Public Relations and Corporate Affairs citing that it was advertised in error.
The capital times has learnt that on 19th December 2022, NIRA advertised a vacant position of Manager Public Relations and corporate affairs that seeked suitably qualified Ugandans to fill.
A top official from NIRA who prefered to remain anonymous revealed to this site that 30 people who fully qualified for the advertised job had applied but it was shocking that the executive director cancelled the job advertisement saying it was done in error.
“This is to inform the general public that the position of Manager Public Relations and Corperate Affairs under NIRA which was published in the New Vision of 19th December, 2022 was advertised in error.
Accordingly, this advertisement has been cancelled. We regret any inconveniences caused.
Management,” NIRA said in another notice.
In a shocking revelation, the whistleblower adds that besides cancellation of the job advert, three people who were not even qualified have since been secretly shortlisted for the same job.
“Surprisingly 3 people have now been shortlisted for the same job and non of them is qualified to take on such a strategic placement,” he revealed.
This move left applicants confused and disappointment since they had invested their time and effort into the application process leaving them criticizing the organization’s lack of transparency and accountability in the recruitment process.
Furthermore, some individuals have speculated that the cancellation of the advertisement and the secret shortlisting of candidates may be a result of corruption or nepotism within the organization.
In response to these concerns, civil society groups and individuals have called for an independent investigation into the matter and for greater oversight of the National Identification and Registration Authority of Uganda.
It should be noted that this is not the first time such scandals are cited at the Kololo based government agency.
In April 2021, some board members at NIRA were accused of favouring their “Girlfriends” for the position of Managing Director.
Last year, the soft underbelly of the national register came under renewed focus, with experts warning that the absence of either a recovery or backup centre could cost the country dear.
The German firm that erected the National Security Information Systems (NSIS) whose infrastructure is used to make national identity (ID) cards revealed that it wasn’t tasked with putting up a backup system.
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