Museveni Nominates New Public Service Commission Team

President Yoweri Museveni has nominated a new nine-member team proposed to lead Uganda’s Public Service Commission (PSC).

The nominees have to appear before Parliament for vetting pending approval and instruments of appointment.

The development comes after the Commission revealed to Parliament that it was struggling to perform some of its constitutional functions following the expiry of the term of the previous Commission on July 28, 2026.

The President’s approval is contained in a letter dated August 30, 2026, addressed to the Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet, Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye. The letter was received by the Ministry of Public Service on September 8.

Museveni said he had considered Nakyobe’s July 14, 2026, letter on the proposed composition of the Commission and the criteria used to select the nominees.  

“I approve of the criteria used …” Museveni said, adding that he had also approved the recommended nominees.

Vincent Seruma has been approved as Chairperson, with Jane Sanyu Mpagi as Deputy Chairperson.

The other seven members are Dr Anthony Taabu Munyaho, Dr Hanifah Naama Sengendo, Florence Mugoya Malinga, Dr Opio Alex Achol, Kenneth Namboga Madete, Patrick Ngolobe and Mauda Norah Mugisha.

Museveni also approved Sine Paul Claude and Dr Mackay Akoori Ecuman Okure as reserve candidates.  

The approval came two days after PSC Permanent Secretary John Geoffrey Mbabazi appeared before Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), where he disclosed that the Commission was operating in a crisis following the expiry of the commissioners’ contracts.  

The PSC appeared before COSASE on August 28, 2026, as the committee examined accountability and other issues relating to the Commission.  

Mbabazi told the committee that the absence of a constituted Commission had affected the PSC’s ability to undertake some of its responsibilities, including supporting District Service Commissions.

The disclosure came at a time when several districts were under pressure to constitute or reconstitute their District Service Commissions after the Minister of Local Government, Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, set August 30 as the deadline for the affected local governments to complete the process.  

John Geoffrey Mbabazi told MPs that the absence of a substantive Commission had left the institution constrained in helping districts resolve the challenges surrounding their District Service Commissions.  

Museveni’s approval letter was dated August 30, the same day as the deadline issued to districts by the Local Government Ministry.  

Article 165 of the Constitution provides for a Public Service Commission comprising a Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and seven other members appointed by the President with the approval of Parliament. The Constitution also requires members of the Commission to be persons of high moral character and proven integrity.  

The Commission is a constitutional body at the centre of Uganda’s public-service administration.

Its responsibilities include appointing, confirming and promoting public officers, exercising disciplinary control over them, advising the President on public-service matters, reviewing terms and conditions of service, and guiding and coordinating District Service Commissions.  

The proposed appointments follow the expiry of the term of the Commission headed by Winnie Agnes Kabogoza Musoke, who served as Chairperson from 2022. 

She took over from Justice Ralph Ochan, with Francis Oryang Lagony serving as Deputy Chairperson.  

The Public Service Commission oversees recruitment and other key personnel decisions affecting Uganda’s public workforce. 

The Commission has in recent years handled large-scale recruitment exercises, including a 2025 graduate recruitment exercise in which 81,873 applicants competed for 277 positions across 18 government entities.