By Our Reporters.
The East African Community (EAC) Secretariat has been criticized for calling off job interviews in which Ugandans felt they were systematically unfairly edged out of the jobs by some partners states.
In a statement issued last month the Secretariat’s media unit said the interviews that had been scheduled could not take off due to lack of quorum.
“Following successful profiling and shortlisting, the interviews were set to commence from October 18 to November 2. The Secretariat made all the arrangements for the shortlisted candidates to participate in the interviews through the video conferencing facilities at the ministries of EAC Affairs in the partner states,” the statement reads in part.
EAC secretariat said the interviews could not commence as scheduled due to lack of quorum. The interviews have, therefore, been postponed to a later date that would be communicated accordingly. “The EAC is committed to providing an equal opportunity for all East Africans,” the statement added.
The 42nd extra-ordinary meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers in May this year approved the filling of the vacant positions in the EAC organs and institutions through competitive recruitment.
The EAC secretariat advertised the vacant positions in compliance with the directive of the extra-ordinary council meeting.
At least over 15,000 applications were received from all the six partner states that include Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan.
Enraged Ugandan legislators complained saying their citizens had been deliberately phased out of the jobs.
They accused Speaker of East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Mr Martin Ngoga of bias where he denied Uganda for the job of EALA Clerk and instead ensured he gave it to a Tanzanian.
Ugandan legislatorshave moved a motion, seeking to block the exercise, claiming it was full of corruption. EAC other members Burundi and South Sudan have joined Uganda in protesting.
Burundi said the ongoing recruitment process did not guaranty the implementation of the quota system within the EAC family states.
Uganda East African Affairs Minister who is also First Deputy Prime Minister Ms Rebecca Kadaga, wrote a protest letter over the the regional job’s recruitment.
According to the EAC treaty the recruitment is premised on the principle that citizens from all partner states should enjoy the same rights to employment opportunities available with the regional integration process.
It is a requirement that the staff rules and regulations require the recruitment to be undertaken on a quota system. A country must have at least 14 points which makes Tanzania and Kenya ineligible to front candidates for the position of a clerk position ■
