Kampala. The Deputy Inspector General of Government, Justice George Bamugemereire, has directed the National Agricultural Advisory Services (Naads) board to relieve its chairperson Henry Aggrey Bagiire of his other post, saying it is tantamount to conflict of interest.

Mr Bagiire doubles as chairperson of the finance and administration committee at the Naads secretariat.

In his new report on the investigations into the irregular recruitment of staff at Naads released on Thursday, Justice Bamugemereire faults Mr Bagiire on holding two positions in the same organisation. The ombudsman started inquest into irregular recruitment after Cabinet directed that Naads be restructured into a lean organisation with a single spine structure, separate from the ministry of Agriculture.

According to the findings, Justice Bamugemereire indicated that the board delegated its finance and administration responsibility to Mr Bagiire to create a second position.

The report also indicates that the board was flouted on the principles of transparency and fairness, recruiting people without the required experience in the agriculture field.

The Naads board is accused of failing to advertise the positions executive director held by Dr Samuel Mugasi, the executive assistant, and office messenger yet they were filled.

The report also pins the secretariat on poor records keeping which “makes it hard to retrieve records concerning even recent events”.

“The executive director... should ensure all board records are securely kept and further ensure that all Board and Board committee minutes are approved and signed,” the report reads in part.

It also directed the board to align the short listing criteria for the positions highlighted in the report with the job specifications laid out in the job advertisements.

The ombudsman directed NAADS to implement the recommendations in 60 days.

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The deputy IGG directed the board to advertise the positions of executive assistant, and office messenger. He also directed the board to align the shortlisting criteria for the positions highlighted in the report with the job specifications.