KAMPALA- The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) board has been boxed into a tight corner over the employment of their former supervisor, the ex-Information and Communications Technology State minister Nyombi Thembo, as head of the Rural Communication Development Fund (RCDF).

Sources familiar with the matter told this newspaper that since late June, the board led by Dr Vincent Kasangaki has been stuck with the decision of how to proceed, especially after the former MP was presented as the most qualified candidate for the job from a short-list of about eight.

Daily Monitor understands that the board last month wrote to the Inspector General of Government, Ms Irene Mulyagonja, seeking guidance on how to handle the matter without contravening the Leadership Code Act, 2002.

The spokesperson of the IGG, Ms Munira Ali said: “We are studying the matter before giving them our legal opinion.”

The decision by the board followed a whistleblower petition to the Ombudsman citing corruption, misuse of office, conflict of interest and influence peddling in the recruitment of the former Kasanda South MP who, while still serving as minister, was responsible for UCC.

His political grave was dug and sealed after he lost the ruling NRM party primaries in October last year.

The Whistleblower also claimed the minister “was masterminding the entire recruitment process to suit his own personal interests.”

RCDF is the body responsible for the development of communications infrastructure outside the main urban centres. The fund also collects the regulator’s mandatory 2 per cent levy from telecommunications companies.

The management of the fund, among other jobs, fell vacant early this year in what the regulator called a restructuring exercise that sparked off jitters from the affected 21 staff who besides running to court for redress also petitioned the IGG citing foul play in the entire process.

The immediate former director of RCDF, Mr Bob Lyazi, was among the victims of the restructuring.

Job advertised

Consequently in March, UCC put out a job advert for the position of the director of the Fund whose main responsibilities are to provide strategic leadership and management of the Fund.

UCC also enlisted a consulting firm, ABS Consulting Group, which interviewed several candidates for the job.

Sources familiar with the matter said Mr Thembo was among those shortlisted and his name was forwarded to the board. However, during the same period he was meant to undergo the board interviews, a whistleblower petitioned the IGG.

The Ombudsman was already investigating the circumstances that led to the sacking of the 21 staff and illegal recruitments at UCC.

For example, the wife of former ICT minister Ham Mulira sits on the board while Mr Thembo’s daughter and son are UCC staff in various capacities.

The board chairperson, Dr Kasangaki, was not readily available for comment but the executive director, Godfrey Mutabazi said there are due procedures for employment so the public should stop “blowing things out of proportion.”

“There are several organisations employing sons and daughters of prominent people in government but UCC is not among them,” he said.

“The ones you know about were recruited normally like any other staff,” he added.