The Serere district council has approved a recommendation from the social services committee to expose and prosecute staff who will be found to have forged academic transcripts.
This follows concerns from the community over the alleged poor service delivery in some sectors manned by officers who were recruited with forged academic documents.
The councilors noted during the council deliberations on Tuesday that some of the affected staff obtained papers from their relatives and friends, some of whom have either died or were paid off to surrender the papers.
It is alleged that more than 20 staff have forged academic papers and that some of them are holding senior positions in the district while others are parish chiefs, medics, teachers, and accountants.
According to Catherine Adongo the councilor for Ochapa Town Council, the district is constrained in service delivery because of staff occupying offices illegally.
She adds that the affected staff continue to block the recruitment of eligible candidates for fear of competition.
Alice Apolot, the LC V councilor of Kateta Sub County says it’s immoral to have staff with forged papers working in the district, especially in sensitive sectors like health and education. She wants the affected persons exposed soon to bring sanity to Serere.
Meanwhile, Serere Chief Administrative Officer Gabriel Atama had guided that the matter is handled with caution since it would require finances but the councilors objected to the appeal.
He noted that the district would require the services of an independent audit firm to scrutinize the academic documents of staff employed in the district in order to expose those with the alleged forged papers.
“Some of these people could be your sons, daughters, or relatives. We have around 180 and don’t be surprised even if these new ones (newly recruited staff) could be on the list,” says Atama.
“Some of these people have worked here for 10 or even 15 years but what you’re doing is a very noble course only that it is costly,” he added.
Serere district has been on the spot over alleged recruitment irregularities fueled by bribery.
